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Egypt’s first Islamist president sworn in

Egypt's Islamist President-elect Mohamed Mursi delivers a speech in Cairo's Tahrir Square June 29, 2012. Mursi took an informal oath of office on Friday before tens of thousands of supporters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, in a slap at the generals trying to limit his power. REUTERS/Egyptian Presidency/Handout

(Reuters) – Egypt’s first Islamist president, Mohamed Mursi, took his oath of office on Saturday, ending six decades of rule by former military men although the generals in charge since Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year have already curbed his powers.

Egypt’s Islamist President-elect Mohamed Mursi delivers a speech in Cairo’s Tahrir Square June 29, 2012. Mursi took an informal oath of office on Friday before tens of thousands of supporters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, in a slap at the generals trying to limit his power. REUTERS/Egyptian Presidency/Handout

Mursi was sworn in before the Supreme Constitutional Court, rather than parliament as is usual. The Islamist-led lower house was dissolved by the same court shortly before this month’s run-off presidential election.

(Writing by Edmund Blair)

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