Protesters had gathered at the palace on Tuesday to protest Mursi’s constitutional declaration, which gave him sweeping powers. The clashes intensified Wednesday night outside the palace in Heliopolis between supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Mursi.

Amr Zaky of the Freedom and Justice Party said that a young Muslim Brotherhood member died, and Amer al-Wekil, general coordinator of Egypt’s Alliance of Revolutionaries said that a woman died in the clashes, according to the Middle East news agency.


Health Ministry sources did not confirm the deaths but said in a statement that 211 have been injured in the clashes at the presidential palace, according to Egypt Independent.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Hisham Qandil issued a brief statement asked protesters to evacuate the area surrounding the presidential palace immediately. Hisham Qandil, also called on protesters “to give the opportunity for the efforts being made now to begin a national dialogue.”

Opposition leaders have accused Morsi for the bloodshed, while senior Muslim Brotherhood officials blamed the opposition of “inciting violence.”

Morsi left the palace during Tuesday’s protest, but was back at work the next morning, according to a spokesman. He did not make any public appearances on Wednesday.

The violence escalates a two-week-old political standoff in Egypt, which began with Mursi’s November 22 decree which gives him sweeping powers, freeing himself from any judicial oversight.

The decree also barred the courts from dissolving the  100-member constituent assembly which has been drafting a new constitution. A final draft of the document was sent to Morsi last week, and it is scheduled to face a public referendum on December 15.

In an emergency meeting on Saturday, Egyptian judges issued a statement expressing their disappointment over the decree and described Mursi’s move as “unprecedented attack on judiciary independence,” AFP reported.

The judges have also called for a “suspension of work all in courts and prosecution administrations,” in protest against the decree.

According to Mursi’s decree, no authority can revoke presidential decisions. It also includes a bar on dissolving the assembly drawing up a new constitution. This means that the Islamist-dominated panel drawing up a new constitution can no longer be touched and gives it a two-month extension until February to complete its work, according to Al Jazeera.

Mursi’s decree says that these powers are temporary and in effect until a new constitution is written and a new parliament is voted in.

Mursi’s decision to assume sweeping powers sparked outrage amongst his opponents and prompted violent clashes in central Cairo and other cities on Friday.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square to protest against what they say is a coup by Mursi.

According to Al Ahram state-run new agency Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has called for a mass protest on Tuesday in support of Mursi.

Meanwhile, Western governments have also voiced growing concern over the political crisis.

In a statement by Washington on Friday, Clinton said that, “The decisions and declarations announced on November 22 raise concerns for many Egyptians and for the international community.”

“One of the aspirations of the revolution was to ensure that power would not be overly concentrated in the hands of any one person or institution. The current constitutional vacuum in Egypt can only be resolved by the adoption of a constitution that includes checks and balances, and respects fundamental freedoms, individual rights, and the rule of law consistent with Egypt’s international commitments,” she added.