In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has given a call for mass demonstration in Cairo to protest against the move by the military rulers to assume sweeping powers. The Islamist group has alleged that it is a soft coup staged by the military council after the High constitutional court ruled to dissolve the newly elected parliament.

The Brotherhood insists that parliament still has the power to legislate and has vowed to challenge the constitutional declaration, even as it also faces a lawsuit challenging its legitimacy and legal status.

Revolutionary youth movements have also denounced the declaration as a coup. The Coalition of Revolution Youth said in a statement that the military council has never and will never recognize popular legitimacy that contradicts it.

Meanwhile the military rulers sought to allay the fears over the declaration, insisting it will transfer power to the new president on schedule by the end of this month. A member of the ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces, SCAF, Mamdouh Shahin told that the new president will swear his oath before the constitutional court by June 30 and he will enjoy full presidential powers. 

Muslim Brotherhood campaign has claimed victory for Mohammed Mursi in the Presidential elections. The claim has been refuted as an electoral fraud by the rival Shafiq campaign. Official results will be out only on Thursday.

Experts say, irrespective of the outcome, Egypt faces a messy and tortuous road to democracy amidst a looming showdown between the Muslim Brotherhood and the ruling military council over parliamentary and presidential powers.