'Revolutionaries' get pardon

President Mohammed Morsi said on Monday that anyone convicted of such acts would be freed in what his legal adviser Mohammed Gadallah called "one of the revolution's most important victories."

Hundreds of Egyptians are still awaiting trial for offences allegedly committed during the uprising that overthrew Hosni Mubarak last year.

The prosecutor-general and military prosecutor have now been asked to draw up a list of defendants and convicts who could be pardoned.

But human rights lawyer Ahmed Ragheb said it was unclear who the decree would benefit.

"Nobody is facing charges called 'supporting the revolution'," he said, noting that the phrase could be interpreted in different ways.

Mr Morsi has taken pains to project an image of efficient and dynamic government recently.

In a bizarre speech at the weekend he took five key areas of public concern - bread, fuel, rubbish collection, traffic and security - and awarded himself "scientifically gauged" scores on each, ranging from 45 per cent to 85 per cent.

Human Rights Watch expressed concern on Monday that a draft of Egypt's new constitution does not define torture and would restrict the rights of women and religious minorities.