Egypt - Morsi defends military reshuffle amid foreign doubts
Morsi's decision to retire Tantawi, and his suspension of constitutional amendments issued by the military restricting presidential powers, was celebrated by thousands of Egyptians in Cairo's Tahrir Square. That city-center square had played host to violent protests that led to the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak last February.
In an address to the Egyptian people Sunday evening, Morsi said that his move was not personal.
"The decisions I took today were not meant ever to target certain persons, nor did I intend to embarrass institutions, nor was my aim to narrow freedoms," he said. "I did not mean to send a negative message about anyone, but my aim was the benefit of this nation and its people."
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"We are following what is happening there with great concern," an unnamed Israeli official told AFP.
"The change of security and military leadership in Egypt will require Israel to open channels of dialogue with the new figures, not all of whom are familiar faces," wrote the Israeli Maariv newspaper.
The moves were also met with skepticism in the United States.
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