Egypt protesters, police clash after Morsi decree

[NewsCaster]

Demonstrations erupt in major Egyptian cities after President Mohammed Morsi granted himself sweeping new judicial and legislative powers. NBC's Jim Maceda reports from Cairo.By NBC News staff and wire reportsUpdated at 11:20 a.m. ET: Opposition protesters clashed with police in several Egyptian cities Friday after new Islamist President Mohammed Morsi awarded himself sweeping new powers.

Police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse tens of thousands of protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the center of anti-regime protests that ousted longtime U.S.-backed leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

"The people want to bring down the regime," shouted protesters, echoing a chant used in the anti-Mubarak uprising. "Get out, Morsi," they chanted.

State TV also said Morsi opponents set fire to Muslim Brotherhood offices in the Suez Canal cities of Suez, Port Said and Ismailia.

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