Egypt's Morsi vows to put charter to vote despite unrest

CAIRO: Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi on Thursday defied calls to curb his sweeping powers, infuriating thousands of protesters who have clashed bloodily with his supporters in recent days.

In an address broadcast live, Morsi vowed to push on with a December 15 referendum on a controversial new constitution, saying "afterwards, there should be no obstacle and everyone must follow its will."

As he was wrapping up his speech, protesters stormed the Cairo villa housing the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood which backed him for the presidency, setting it on fire.

"Two hundred thugs went to the headquarters. Security tried to prevent them, but some got through the back door, ransacked it and set it on fire. It is still burning now," Brotherhood spokesman Mahmud Ghozlan said.

Seven people died in clashes between Morsi's supporters and his mainly secular opponents on Wednesday night in Egypt's worst political crisis since Morsi took office in June. Another 644 people were injured, medical sources said.

The army ordered the square in front of the presidential palace cleared of protesters from both sides, deploying tanks and setting up barbed wire.

In his speech, Morsi said more than 80 people had been arrested.

He railed against the "aggression," implying the opposition protesters were to blame.

"Some attacked cars of the presidency, seriously injuring one of their drivers, who is still in hospital," he said.

"I will never allow anyone to resort to killing and sabotage."

The anti-Morsi camp is furious with the president for assuming sweeping powers two weeks ago.

The violence in Cairo recalled scenes seen in the February 2011 uprising that toppled veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt's top Islamic body, Al-Azhar, has called on Morsi to suspend his November 22 decree giving him powers critics say are as sweeping as Mubarak's.