Islamists on Saturday held a mass rally in Cairo in support of President Mohammed Morsi, whose decree to grant himself sweeping new powers has exposed deep divisions in Egypt, DPA reported.
Morsi is also trying to rush a new constitution drafted by an Islamist-led consituent assembly for a referendum as he faces accusations of a power grab from opposition groups.
Tens of thousands gathered outside Cairo University, carrying placards declaring support for Morsi, who made all his decisions and laws immune to judicial review.
The decision infuriated judges, many of whom were appointed under Mubarak.
"The people support Morsi's decisions," chanted the demonstrators. Some held placards saying they support his efforts to "cleanse" Egypt, a reference to government and judicial officials appointed by former president Hosny Mubarak.
The rally was called by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist allies after opposition groups on Friday held a rally to denounce his decisions.
Anti-Morsi protesters are on an open-ended strike in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
Morsi's decree sparked street protests reminiscent of the popular uprising that forced Mubarak to step down almost two years ago.
Saturday's rally comes one day after an Islamist-controlled constituent assembly adopted a draft constitution in a rushed vote to preempt a hearing on Sunday at Egypt's top court to rule on the assembly's legality.
The draft constitution kept Islamic law as the main source of legislation, raising fears that women and minority groups would be sidelined.
Secular-minded and Christian members of the assembly did not attend the voting session, to protest what they said were attempts by the Islamist majority to dictate the constitution, the first since Mubarak was toppled.
The assembly is to forward the draft to Morsi, who will then have two weeks to set a date for the referendum.
Saturday's rally was largely peaceful but one person died and 24 were injured when a tree fell on protesters, a security official said. The accident occurred when demonstrators climbed a tree near Cairo University.