video transcript

Hundreds gather outside Cairo's High Court building Saturday in outcry as the recently sacked Prosecutor General holds a news conference. Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi faces a rebellion from judges, after he granted himself sweeping powers. They accuse him of expanding his powers at their expense. Inside more uproar as the deposed prosecutor Abdel-Majeed Mohmoud offers thanks. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDEL-MAJEED MAHMOUD, PROSECUTOR-GENERAL DEPOSED BY PRESIDENT MURSI, SAYING: "I urge you to accept from me sincere gratitude over your stance in defending the independence and prestige of the judiciary". Mursi vowed to re-open old cases of Mubarak-era officials accused of corruption and of killing protesters during the 2011 revolution. Many have felt the judiciary has been too lenient on former state officials. But opponents accuse Mursi of being authoritarian and power-hungry. Now the Egyptian President is confronted with a domestic crisis just as his administration won international praise for mediating an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.