Egypt's interim Prez vows fresh polls, 51 killed in clashes

Egypt's interim President unveiled a roadmap for fresh polls by early next year to end the raging political turmoil in the country, as angry Islamists today staged rallies after clashes between loyalists of deposed leader Mohammed Morsi and soldiers killed 51 people.

Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour issued a constitutional declaration late last night giving himself limited power to make laws, and outlined the timetable for parliamentary and presidential elections, according to state media.

Mansour issued the anticipated declaration that will remain effective until the end of the ongoing transitional period, which will last for at least six months, according to the decree.

The whole process will take no more than 210 days, according to the decree, meaning elections will be by February at the latest.

The declaration came after clashes between Morsi's supporters and security forces killed 51 people yesterday, and wounded another 435. It was the deadliest day in Cairo since the revolution that forced former President Hosni Mubarak from office in 2011.

The clash took place outside the Republican Guard headquarters, where 61-year-old toppled president is said to have been put 'under guard'.

The army, in a statement, said, 'an armed terrorist group tried to storm' the Republican Guard compound and soldiers retaliated by firing.

Muslim Brotherhood, which has led demonstrations against last week's military overthrow of Morsi, called for an 'uprising' and accused troops and police of 'massacring' its supporters.

Senior officials in Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood rejected the timetable for new elections laid out by interim president.

Leading Brotherhood figure Essam al-Erian said, 'A constitutional decree by a man appointed by putchists... brings the country back to square one.'

Ahmad Abu-Barakah, a legal adviser to the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), said the decree was 'invalid and illegitimate', the Al-Misri al-Yawm reported.

Other Islamists parties opposed to Morsi's ouster also rejected the decree.