Mohamed Morsi ready to use bullying in order to impose new  islamic sharia constitution. He has ordered the Egyptian army to “preserve security” and help police tackle protesters.

A new decree compels the army to “co-operate” with police, orders it to “protect vital institutions” and gives it powers to make arrests until after a controversial referendum on the constitution on Saturday.

The order, which comes into force today, says: “Armed forces officers participating in missions to preserve security and protect vital state institutions … all have powers of legal arrest.”

The opposition to Mr Morsi has called for another day of protest on Tuesday over the new constitution and further outbreaks of violence are widely anticipated.

Tanks and armed troops have surrounded the presidential palace in Cairo since Thursday following running street battles between Mr Morsi’s supporters and his opponents, which left seven dead and 700 injured.

Despite their presence they have not confronted the thousands of protesters who remain gathered there.

The army took control of the country following the downfall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime but has since sought to remain a neutral force.

Mr Morsi attempted to quell the violence in the country on Saturday by surrendering the decree which gave him sweeping new powers and which triggered the recent unrest in the country.

Instead he said there would be a referendum on the new constitution, which opponents claim does not guarantee basic rights to Egyptians with its emphasis on Islam and Sharia law.

Opponents rejected the referendum. They view the draft constitution, largely drafted by Mr Morsi’s Islamist allies, as undermining human rights, the rights of women, religious minorities, and curtailing the independence of the judiciary.

Mr Morsi has pushed on with the new charter, saying it is necessary to secure democratic reform.

The spokesman for the National Salvation Front opposition, Sameh Ashour, said: “We do not recognise the draft constitution because it does not represent the Egyptian people.”

He said that going ahead with the referendum “in this explosive situation with the threat of the Brothers’ militias amounts to the regime abandoning its responsibilities”.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Mr Morsi’s party, has responded to the call for the new day of protest by organising a rally of support.

If the new charter is rejected, Mr Morsi has promised to have a new one drawn up by 100 officials chosen directly by the public rather than appointed by the Islamist-dominated parliament.

However, analysts say it is unlikely that the new constitution will not win support in a referendum.

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