SCAF's powers would be transferred to the president

Morsy sends Tantawi to retirement, appoints Sisi military head
Egypt Independent Sun, 12/08/2012 - 19:40

President Mohamed Morsy sent head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces
Hussein Tantawi and Chief of Staff Sami Anan to retirement Sunday, in the
most drastic shuffle of the country's military leadership since Morsy
assumed power at the end of June, according to the president's spokesperson.

Morsy appointed Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as defense minister and head of the
armed forces following Tantawi's retirement.

Spokesperson Yasser Ali also announced that Morsy canceled the supplement to
Constitutional Declaration, which was passed by the SCAF on 17 June and
limited the president's powers. Ali said the supplement would be replaced
with Article 25 of the original Constitutional Declaration passed by popular
referendum in March 2011, which stipulated that once a civilian president
was elected, the SCAF's powers would be transferred to the president.

Morsy also ruled that if the work of the Constituent Assembly is impeded for
any reason, he would form a new Constituent Assembly to prepare a new
constitution within three months from the date of its formation. In
addition, parliamentary elections are to be held within two months of the
day the new constitution is approved.

Ali also announced that SCAF member Mohamed al-Assar was appointed deputy
defense minister and head of naval forces Mohab Mamish, also a SCAF member,
was appointed head of the Suez Canal Authority.

Both Tantawi and Anan were also appointed advisers to the president and each
given the Nile Medal, the highest state honor in Egypt.

Morsy also appointed Mahmoud Mekky, a judge, as his vice president.