A draft version of Egypt’s new constitution is expected to be issued ahead of schedule in an attempt to counter protests against President Mursi’s decree to grant himself wide-ranging new powers.

The assembly charged with drafting the constitution declared it will be ready on 29 November, ahead of the original 12 December deadline.

Following the release of the draft, a national referendum on the constitution could be held in a number of weeks, followed by parliamentary elections.

President Mursi has said that once a new constitution is put in place, there would be no need for him to exercise his newly expanded powers.

On 22 November, Mursi announced that he was allowed to take any measures that would protect the revolution and the national security of Egypt. He also rules that the no judicial authority can dissolve the constituent assembly or the upper house of parliament and that no court could dispute his decisions.

His decree provoked widespread protests, with judges calling for strikes and thousands of demonstrators gathering in Tahrir Square.

The president’s decree and the rushing of the constitution draft is also being seen as an attempt to avoid the supreme constitutional court ruling that the assembly drafting the constitution was not formed legally. A ruling was expected on 2 December.

The assembly has been criticised for being overly-dominated by Islamist groups and a number of secular liberal and Christian groups have walked out of constitution talks in recent weeks.