Egypt's Morsi says Nasser's 1952 coup failed to bring democracy
Author: Nehal El-Sherif
Cairo (dpa) - As Egypt commemorates on Monday the 60th anniversary of the 1952 coup led by the military, President Mohamed Morsi said that it failed to introduce democracy in the country.
In a televised address, broadcast late Sunday, Morsi said that the July 23, 1952 revolution led by Gamal Abdul Nasser which overthrew King Farouk I, abolished the constitutional monarchy and established a republic, was a defining moment in the history of contemporary Egypt.
But Morsi - Egypt's first democratically-elected president, added: "The Revolution (coup) succeeded in achieving some of its goals, but it stalled in others, particularly in laying the foundation for real democracy, which failed in Egypt in the last 30 years due to tyranny, fraud and injustice."
Morsi, who was elected last month as the country's first civilian and Islamist president, delivered the speech against the background of a power struggle between his Muslim Brotherhood group and the country's military, which was brought to power by the coup 60 years ago.
He added that "the second revolution in January 25, 2011 corrected the path."
Tensions began between Morsi and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which ruled Egypt for 16 after the ouster of Hosny Mubarak, heightened when a constitutional court dissolved the Islamist-led lower house of parliament few days before Morsi was elected.
Islamists, including the Muslim Brotherhood, held more than two-thirds of seats in parliament.
Following the court ruling, the military council granted itself legislative powers in a constitutional declaration, raising fears that it was trying to hold on to power.
Yet, Morsi praised the army for its role in last year's revolt.
"The great Egyptian army sided with the people's choice and backed the building of the second republic on the basis of real freedom for all," he said.
In 1952, a group of army officers who named themselves "The Free Officers Movement" overthrew the monarchy and established a republic.
The Muslim Brotherhood were particularly persecuted during the rule of Nasser in the 1950s and 1960s. Although, the group remained to be banned until Mubarak's ouster last year, its members were largely tolerated and allowed to run for parliamentary elections as independents.
Before Morsi, Egypt's first four presidents all came from the military. Over the past 60 years, the military has acquired vast economic interests, including construction companies, farms, food factories, clubs and a chain of gas stations.
Their economic power has never been made public, though some analysts estimate they control up to 40 per cent of Egypt's economy.
