Egyptian President ousts military leaders!

Morsi revokes military-declared constitutional amendments.

CAIRO, Egypt (PNN) - August 12, 2012 - Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi made waves on Sunday by ordering the removal of several figures in Egypt's military and revoking a military-declared constitutional amendment that had granted the military far reaching powers over the country.

In one day, Morsi ordered the firing of Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, the leader of the 23-member Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), and the retirement of Army Chief of Staff General Sami Anan.

Morsi also ordered the retirement of the commanders of the navy, air defense and air force.

In addition, Morsi canceled the military-declared constitutional amendments that granted the top generals wide powers previously reserved for the head of state.

"The president has decided to annul the constitutional declaration adopted by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on June 17, 2012, which took power last year from ousted president Hosni Mubarak," Morsi spokesman Yasser Ali said in a statement carried on state television.

On the same day, Morsi appointed a senior judge, Mahmoud Mekki, as vice president. Mekki is a pro-reform judge who publicly spoke against election fraud during Hosni Mubarak's ruling years.

The SCAF, which ruled Egypt for 17 months following the country's uprising and ouster of 29-year dictator Hosni Mubarak, stripped the presidency of many of its key powers days before newly elected President Morsi's inauguration, through constitutional amendments that gave them the power to legislate the country, control the national budget, and control the process of drafting a new constitution.

These military powers were reversed on Sunday through Morsi's maneuvers.