Egyptian protests planned through week

CAIRO, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A revolutionary movement in Egypt said demonstrations would continue into the week to put more pressure on Islamic elites.

Frustration with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi boiled over last month after he claimed sweeping powers. His supporters said the move was meant to facilitate constitutional developments.

Judges from Egypt's constitutional court suspended their work Sunday, saying protesters blocked them from entering the courthouse.

The incident means a delay in the judges' much-awaited ruling on the legitimacy of the Islamist-led legislative assembly that drafted a new constitution last week. Morsi announced Saturday that Egyptians would vote on the new charter Dec. 15.

Mahmoud Afify, a spokesman for a revolutionary youth movement, said marches were planned throughout the week. He accused the Muslim Brotherhood of taking advantage of the people's goodwill, the Egyptian Independent reports.

Morsi, the candidate from the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, became the first democratically elected president in Egyptian history in June. Since last year's revolution, however, rival movements have expressed concern of the Islamic party's emerging political influence.

Rights groups last week expressed their concern about certain principles in the draft constitution, including those regarding a woman's role in society and those regarding Islamic law.