Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi Ousts Top Military Chiefs

At the New York Times, "In Upheaval for Egypt, Morsi Forces Out Military Chiefs" (via Memeorandum):

CAIRO — President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt forced the retirement on Sunday of his powerful defense minister, the army chief of staff and several senior generals, in a stunning purge that seemed for the moment to reclaim for civilian leaders much of the political power the Egyptian military had seized since the fall of Hosni Mubarak last year.

Mr. Morsi also nullified a constitutional declaration, issued by the military before he was elected, that eviscerated the powers of the presidency and arrogated to the military the right to enact laws. It was not immediately clear whether he had the constitutional authority to cancel that decree.

In a news conference broadcast about 5 p.m., Mr. Morsi’s spokesman, Yasser Ali, announced the retirements of the defense minister, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, and the army chief of staff, Sami Anan. He said that both men would serve as advisers to the president, suggesting that they had acquiesced to the plan.

Mr. Morsi also named a senior judge, Mahmoud Mekki, as his vice president. During the Mubarak era, Mr. Mekki fought for judicial independence and spoke out frequently against voting fraud. The president also replaced the commanders of the Navy, Air Force and air defense.

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Also at Legal Insurrection, "Muslim Brotherhood President sacks Egyptian military command." And The Astute Bloggers, "UH-OH: MORSI AND MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SWIFTLY PURGE THE MILITARY" (via Memeorandum).