Thousands march to Tahrir as pressure piles on Egypt’s Mursi

Egypt’s President Mohammed Mursi faced nationwide protests on Tuesday after digging in his heels over a controversial decree granting him sweeping powers, in the most divisive crisis since he took power in June.

Thousands of lawyers left their syndicate chanting, “The people want the downfall of the regime,” – the signature chant of the protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak last year – as they made their way to Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square.

Several other marches were preparing to set off from around the capital to join thousands of protesters already in the square to denounce Mursi’s decree.

In the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, several hundred gathered in Qaitbay Square, with two large marches expected to join them later.

“Down with the rule of the Supreme Guide,” they chanted, in reference to the head of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, on whose ticket Mursi ran for office.

A rival rally in Cairo by the Muslim Brotherhood in support of the president was called off to “avoid potential unrest” but that has done little to abate the division among supporters and foes of Mursi.