Military hands presidential powers to new PM

AFP - Egypt's military rulers on Wednesday gave caretaker premier Kamal al-Ganzuri presidential powers, but added he would have no control over the army or judiciary, a report said.

"The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces delegated presidential powers to Kamal Ganzuri according to the law, but not the armed forces and the judiciary," the official MENA news agency reported.

Ganzuri, a 78-year-old former prime minister during the toppled regime of Hosni Mubarak, was appointed nearly two weeks ago following street protests that led the former caretaker cabinet to resign.

His new cabinet is expected to be sworn in later on Wednesday.

Protesters took to the streets of Cairo again last month to pressure the interim army rulers in the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to transfer their sweeping control to civilian leaders.

The military has said it would hand over power after presidential elections by the end of June next year.

When former autocrat Hosni Mubarak stepped down in February, the SCAF took control as the ultimate power in the country in a bid to ensure stability.

They have suspended the constitution, meaning the powers of the caretaker cabinet and a new parliament currently being elected, are unclear.

Pro-democracy protesters have accused them of preparing to consolidate their influence and they have made clear they expect to retain supra-constitutional powers in future such as oversight over army related legislation.