Egypt's army vows to hand power to elected president

Egypt’s ruling military council has vowed to hand over power to an elected president by the end of June.

The promise comes as votes are counted after Sunday’s presidential run-off election, with both candidates claiming they are ahead in early results. However, the council had earlier issued a declaration granting itself sweeping powers over legislation and the introduction of a new constitution. Opposition groups condemned the declaration as a “coup”. Lt Muhammad al-Assar from the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (Scaf) told a news conference that a ceremony would be held in late June to hand over power to the new president, state media report. However, the constitutional declaration issued by the Scaf late on Sunday effectively gives it legislative powers, control over the budget and over who writes the permanent constitution following mass street protests that toppled Mr Mubarak in February 2011.