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victory of an Islamist as head of state in the stunning wave of protests demanding democracy that swept the Middle East the past year. But the military handed itself the lion's share of power over the new president, sharpening the possibility of confrontation.
• With parliament dissolved and martial law effectively in force, the generals issued an interim constitution granting themselves sweeping authorities that ensure their hold on the state and subordinate the president. They will be Egypt's lawmakers, they will control the budget and they will determine who writes the permanent constitution that will define the country's future.
• But as it claimed a narrow victory over Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister Ahmed Shafiq in a deeply polarizing election, the Brotherhood challenged the military's power grab. The group said Sunday it did not recognize the dissolution of parliament, where it was the largest party. It also rejected the military's right to issue an interim constitution and oversee the drafting of a new one.
• That pointed to a potential struggle over spheres of authority between Egypt's two strongest forces. The Brotherhood has campaigned on a platform of bringing Egypt closer to a form of Islamic rule, but the military's grip puts it in a position to block that. Instead, any conflict would likely center on more basic questions of control -- if the Brotherhood pushes a fight. It has reached accommodations with the military in the past.
• Official final results are not due until Thursday, and Shafiq's campaign challenged the Brotherhood claim, which was based on the group's compilation of election officials' returns from nearly all polling centers nationwide.
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(Continued on page 21)
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