Egypt's military hands over power to President Mursi in military ceremony

A few hours after Egypt's new president Mohamed Mursi is sworn into office he attends a military ceremony in Cairo.

The military council under Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi have ruled the most populous Arab state since Hosni Mubarak's overthrow in February 2011.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has guided a chaotic and sometimes bloody transition since Mubarak's overthrow

At the ceremony the military hands over power.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT, MOHAMED MURSI, SAYING:

"Today, the Egyptian people, the Arab and Islamic world and the whole world are witnessing a-never before seen, unique, model of how power is transferred from the Egyptian armed forces -- by the will of the Egyptian people -- to an elected, civilian power."

An army decree on June 17 clipped presidential powers, denying the head of state his role as supreme commander of the armed forces with the right to decide on war and peace. It also gave the military legislative powers until a new parliament is elected, as well as veto rights over the writing of a new constitution.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters