Morsy promises punishment; protesters vow to continue

An umbrella Egyptian opposition group calls for new mass protests Friday President Mohamed Morsy says those responsible for violence must be punished Top opposition leaders under investigation amid unrest, a prosecutor's spokesman says Morsy calls for dialogue, but doesn't revoke his edict or the constitutional vote date Cairo (CNN) -- Opposition activists geared up for a new round of mass demonstrations Friday, unconvinced by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy's defense of his recent controversial actions and unnerved by threats of punishment. In remarks Thursday night -- his latest since the bloodiest stretch in two weeks of political unrest -- Morsy refused to back off the controversial edict he issued or his nation's upcoming constitutional referendum, saying he respects peaceful opposition to his decisions but won't stand for violence. Addressing "those who oppose me" and his backers, the president condemned those involved in the clashes -- referring specifically to those with weapons and who are backed by members of the "corrupt ... ex-regime" -- and promised they'd be held accountable. "(They) will not escape punishment," the president said in a televised speech. Yet Morsy's words not only failed to mollify many protesters on the streets, it further enraged them. Activists camped in Cairo's Tahrir Square chanted "Leave! Leave! Leave!" as the president talked. Protesters angry over Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy's decisions giving himself unchecked powers surround the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo after starting a fire inside the compound on Thursday, December 6. Riot police form a line as anti-Morsy protesters surge around the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo on December 6. An anti-Mohamed Morsy protester shouts during a march to the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on December 6. Protesters are blocked from approaching the the presidential palace by the Egyptian army on December 6 in Cairo. Egyptian soldiers stand outside the presidential palace in Cairo after setting up barbed wire barricades on December 6. Supporters of Morsy clash with anti-Morsy protesters outside the Egyptian presidential palace on Wednesday, December 5, in Cairo. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsy supporters destroy tents of anti-Morsy protesters outside the presidential palace on December 5. Morsy supporters carry an injured man to safety during clashes with anti-Morsy demonstrators on a road leading to the Egyptian presidential palace on December 5. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of Morsy clash with anti-Morsy demonstrators on a road leading to the Egyptian presidential palace on December 5. Egyptian riot police stand behind barbwire as thousands of Egyptian demonstrators march to the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, December 4. Tens of thousands of demonstrators encircled the presidential palace in Cairo after riot police failed to keep them at bay with tear gas on December 4. An Egyptian woman waves a national flag as demonstrators march to the presidential palace in Cairo on December 4. A Morsy supporter waves a flag outside the Supreme Constitutional Court as hundreds of supporters of the president protest on Sunday, December 2, in Cairo, forcing judges to postpone a hearing on a constitutional panel at the heart of a deepening political crisis. Supporters of Morsy pray outside the Supreme Constitutional Court on December 2. A man kisses a portrait of Morsy during a gathering of thousands of Islamists in front of Cairo University on Saturday, December 1. Thousands pray during a rally in support of Morsy in front of Cairo University on December 1. An Egyptian man delivers a speech as protesters gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, November 30. A man shouts as protesters gather in Tahrir Square on November 30. A man holds a copy of the Quran and a cross in Tahrir Square on November 30. Protesters run from Egyptian riot police during clashes near Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, November 28. A protester carries a rock during clashes with police on Wednesday. Egyptians carry a giant national flag as tens of thousands take part in a mass rally in Cairo on Tuesday, November 27, against a decree by President Mohamed Morsy granting himself broad powers. An Egyptian protester holds up a Quran and a figure of Christ on the cross during Tuesday's demonstration. Protesters continue to rally in Tahrir Square on Tuesday. An Egyptian protester attempts to throw back a tear gas canister on Tuesday during clashes with riot police in Omar Makram Street, off Tahrir Square. Activists in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, November 26, carry the coffin of Gaber Salah, an activist who died overnight after he was critically injured in clashes in Cairo. Salah, a member of the April 6 movement known by his nickname "Jika," was injured last week during confrontations between police and protesters on Cairo's Mohammed Mahmud street. Thousands of activists attend the funeral of Gaber Salah on Monday. Protesters clash with Egyptian police at Simon Bolivar Square on Sunday, November 25, in Cairo. Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood called nationwide demonstrations in support of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in his showdown with the judges over the path to a new constitution. Egyptian protesters hurl stones at police at Tahrir Square on Sunday. Protesters gather at sit-in tents in Tahrir Square on Sunday. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy waves to supporters in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, November 23. Thousands of ecstatic supporters gathered outside the presidential palace to defend their leader against accusations from rival protesters that he has become a dictator. Morsy supporters gather outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday. Morsy insisted that Egypt was on the path to "freedom and democracy," as protesters held rival rallies over sweeping powers he assumed that further polarized the country's political forces. Protesters demonstrating against Morsy run from tear gas fired by Egyptian riot police during clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday. Egyptian protesters throw rocks toward riot police on Friday Egyptian supporters and opponents of Morsy clash in the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday. A man throws a rock during clashes in Alexandria on Friday. Thousands of demonstrators march through the streets of Cairo to protest against Morsy on Friday. Clashes rocked the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday. 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The Islamist group said on its website and Twitter that the building had come under "a terrorist attack," with hundreds surrounding it -- though by 1 a.m. Friday, there was no sign of a fire or significant damage. Once the day dawns Friday, more protests are expected. The National Salvation Front, an umbrella group of opposition organizations, is calling for large-scale demonstrations against a government it says has "lost legitimacy," said the group, as reported by the semi-official al-Ahram newspaper. Such a call for action -- and their sustained presence in Tahrir Square -- suggests activists are undaunted by threats from Morsy and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group tied to Morsy that was banned under longtime President Hosni Mubarak but is now Egypt's dominant political force. On Twitter, the Brotherhood has said it will hold opposition figures "fully responsible for escalation of violence & inciting their supporters." Adel Saeed, a spokesman for Egypt's newly appointed general prosecutor, said Friday morning that Hamdeen Sabahi, Mohamed ElBaradei and Amr Moussa are being investigated for allegedly "conspiring to topple" the government. All three are well-known internationally -- with ElBaradei being a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Moussa a one-time head of the Arab League -- and are now being probed for their role in the opposition against Morsy, who defeated all three in this year's presidential election. Those taking part in the protests around the North African nation say the scenes are similar to those of the 2011 uprising that led to Mubarak's ouster. This time, they say, dissent is being vigorously stamped out by Morsy's backers in government and on the street. Specifically, they spoke of thugs with knives and rocks chasing activists, presidential backers belittling opponents and pressure from various quarters to go home and be quiet. "It's exactly the same battle," said Hasan Amin, a CNN iReporter. A November 22 edict by Morsy, in which he made his decisions immune to judicial oversight until a new constitution is voted upon, set off the latest wave of political unrest. And it's been growing -- and growing more violent -- in recent days. Ahead of the president's speech Thursday, opposition leaders were specific in saying what would mollify them: Morsy must roll back his edict granting himself expanded presidential powers and must postpone the scheduled December 15 referendum on a proposed constitution, which they say doesn't adequately represent or protect all Egyptians. Neither happened. iReport: Bloody clashes around Egyptian Presidential palace That fact, itself, isn't surprising. Morsy previously defended the edict as necessary to defend the revolution and his administration has insisted the proposed constitution was drafted legally and the referendum will go on as planned. If people vote it down, the president said Thursday night that he'd form a new assembly to draft another constitution. Yet opposition activists haven't shown any indication that they trust Morsy on that or other counts. They accuse him of consolidating power for himself and the Muslim Brotherhood, in part by having an Islamist-dominated group push through the draft constitution. "This is not what we asked for," one protester said. "It's a complete dictatorship." This internal strife has helped transform the area around the presidential palace in Cairo into a war zone. Streets littered with rubble and burned cars were defined by barbed-wire barricades, patrolling soldiers and parked tanks and armored personnel carriers. Read more: The factors driving Egypt's unrest Beyond the popular unrest, Morsy's inner circle was shaken when Rafik Habib, the deputy head of the Freedom and Justice Party, resigned Thursday, party spokesman Ahmed Sobe said. Habib did not give a reason. His resignation brings to five the number of presidential advisers who have left in the last two days. It is the first, however, from the Freedom and Justice Party. Read more: Egyptian media strikes against President Morsy Egyptian judges and media organizations also have staged strikes to show their displeasure with the situation. And 11 organizations representing lawyers, journalists, writers, actors, musicians and tour guides said Morsy and the Muslim Brotherhood were behind the violence, al-Ahram reported. The group said it would call for Morsy's ouster if the administration failed to protect protesters and "fulfill the aspirations of the January 25 revolution," the newspaper said. Vice President Mahmoud Mekki asked critics Wednesday to submit their proposals for improving the constitution, and Morsy invited political opponents to a meeting Saturday at the president palace. But Morsy -- whom U.S. President Barack Obama told by phone shortly after his speech that any "dialogue should occur without preconditions," according to the White House -- hasn't said he's open to altering the constitution or the planned referendum date. And some Muslim Brotherhood officials have been more strident, especially in their views of the opposition. Muslim Brotherhood Secretary-General Mahmoud Hussein said Thusday that protesters weren't interested in democracy. He accused them of using "crude and contemptible ways of expression, rather than (putting) their points across in a civilized manner." While insisting he respects Egyptians' right to peaceful protest, Morsy spent a significant portion of his Thursday night speech blasting those he claims are behind the recent violence. He accused unspecified foreign and domestic sources of funding and fomenting the unrest, making specific reference to "corrupt" opposing forces tied to Mubarak's government. "The deposed Mubarak regime will not be brought back to life under any circumstances," Morsy said, tweeted the Muslim Brotherhood. If you're in Egypt, please send us your photos, videos, share your story but stay safe Read a version of this story in Arabic Reza Sayah and Ian Lee reported from Cairo; Greg Botelho reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Saad Abedine, Michael Pearson, Karen Smith and Amir Ahmed and journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy also contributed to this report.

Protest over right-to-work bill fills Michigan Capitol

Carlos Osorio / AP Union workers fill the entire of the Michigan's Capitol rotunda in Lansing, Mich., on Thursday. By Vignesh Ramachandran Updated at 7:55 p.m. ET: Police doused demonstrators with pepper spray in Michigan's state Capitol building Thursday, but the protests didn't stop right-to-work legislation from passing the state legislature. To the dismay of labor unions, Michigan's House passed a bill 58-52, with all Democrats and some Republicans voting against it, the Lansing State Journal reported. Michigan's Senate later followed, passing its own version of the bill with a 22-16 vote, according to the newspaper. Gov. Rick Snyder has pledged to sign a right-to-work bill if the House and Senate can agree on a version. Armed with a court order, protesters re-entered the state Capitol in Lansing on Thursday afternoon, The Associated Press reported. Earlier in the day, the building was under lockdown after demonstrators flooded the Capitol. In protest of the lockdown, the Democratic caucus had walked out of the chamber before the vote on the bill, the State Journal reported. "Right-to-work" measures can prohibit unions from collecting fees from nonunion employees, potentially draining unions of money and their ability to bargain, according to the AP. However, supporters claim these sort of measures would help job creation and the economy, the AP reported. Carlos Osorio / AP David Dudenhoefer, left, a right-to-work supporter, receives a thumbs down sign from a union worker during a rally in Lansing, Mich., on Thursday. Police arrested eight protesters among the mass of hundreds inside the Capitol earlier in the day, the AP reported. The unrest was sparked by Gov. Rick Snyder and the Republican-controlled state legislature's moves to introduce the legislation, according to the AP. Authorities said crowds tried to rush the Senate floor, the State Journal also reported. The building's entrance was reportedly blocked by police for safety, though hundreds waited to get inside, according to the newspaper. Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter  "When several of the individuals rushed the troopers, they used chemical munitions to disperse the crowd," Michigan State Police Inspector Gene Adamczyk told the State Journal. "It would be a lot worse if someone gets hurt and I failed to act." Protesters also marched to the nearby Michigan Chamber of Commerce headquarters, which supports right-to-work legislation, the capital city's NBC affiliate WILX reported. Some of the anger could stem from what appears to be the Republican governor's flip-flop. In his first two years in office, Snyder claimed right-to-work legislation was off his agenda, according to the AP. But during a news conference, Snyder said, "This is all about taking care of the hard-working workers in Michigan, being pro-worker and giving them freedom to make choices."  "These guys have lied to us all along the way," Michigan Senate Democratic leader Gretchen Whitmer told the AP. "They are pushing through the most divisive legislation they could come up with in the dark of night, at the end of a lame-duck session and then they're going to hightail it out of town. It's cowardly." Carlos Osorio / AP Union workers rally outside the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Mich., on Thursday. The issue hits close to the heart of organized labor in the "Rust Belt" region.  Michigan, home to the United Auto Workers, has the fifth highest percentage of unionized workers among states, according to government figures cited by Reuters. In November, state voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have barred right-to-work measures under the state constitution, the AP reported. A right to work law was passed in Indiana earlier this year. In Wisconsin, huge protests occurred in 2011 after Republicans pushed through legislation restricting public-sector unions. Opponents of the legislation unsuccessfully attempted to recall Gov. Scott Walker. The Associated Press contributed to this report. More content from NBCNews.com: 2012 warmest year in US? Odds rise to 99.7 percent Buzzkill: Feds fire warning shot over pot legalization Abortion mandate costs Planned Parenthood a few affiliates Contest to kill Burmese pythons in Everglades includes $1,500 grand prizes Video: $45 million worth of cocaine hauled in from sea Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook