video transcript

EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL Protesters in the Egyptian capital aren't convinced by the president's pledge that sweeping new powers he gave himself last week are just a short term measure. Fury erupted when Mohamed Mursi barred legal challenges to his presidential decisions. In a TV interview on Thursday he insisted it was a temporary move until the new constitution was in place. SOUNDBITE: EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMED MURSI SAYING (Arabic): "The constitutional decree - I say that this period will end immediately after the people vote on the constitution that the constituent assembly is now completing." The draft constitution was expected to achieve final approval on Friday. The main opposition coalition says it's a one-party document and is calling for mass protests. SOUNDBITE: WAHEED ABDUL MAGEED, SENIOR WAFD PARTY LEADER, SAYING (Arabic): "The Front reaffirms that the great Egyptian people are capable of protecting their own freedom from attempts to attack it, and issues a call for all of its people and all of its sons and parties and social sectors to take part in a million-person march this Friday and for a continuous demonstration until the goals of this sit-in are achieved." The Islamist president's Muslim Brotherhood supporters set the stage for more tension by calling for pro-Mursi rallies on Saturday.