Anti-Morsi demonstrators battle with Egyptian police in Cairo

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  A protester throws back a tear gas canister during clashes with Egyptian riot Police on Tahrir Square in Cairo. Mahmoud Khaled / AFP

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  Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi speaks to supporters outside the Presidential palace in Cairo on November 23, 2012. AP Photo

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  Protesters climb to place a mask on the face of a statue of South American independence leader Simon Bolivar during clashes with police along a road which leads to the U.S. embassy, near Tahrir Square. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters

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  Mourners attend the funeral of youth activist Gaber Salah, also known as Gika, at Tahrir in Cairo November 26, 2012. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

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  A riot police covers his face from tear gas during clashes with anti-Morsi protesters at Tahrir Square in Cairo November 27, 2012. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

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  Anti-Morsi protesters carry a man affected by tear gas during clashes with riot police at Tahrir Square in Cairo November 27, 2012. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

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  A mourner wearing chains attends the funeral of youth activist Gaber Salah, also known as Gika, at Tahrir in Cairo November 26, 2012. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

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  An anti-Morsi protester holds up an Egyptian flag amongst others throwing stones during clashes with riot police at Tahrir Square in Cairo November 27, 2012. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

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  An Egyptian man slowly walks away as demonstrators and Egyptian riot Police clash on Omar Makram street, off Tarir Square, on November 28, 2012 in Cairo. Mahmoud Khaled / AFP

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  Egyptian Activists and April 6 movement members carry the coffin of Gaber Salah, an activist who died overnight after he was critically injured in clashes near Cairo's Tahrir Square last week, during his funeral at Tahrir square on November 26, 2012 in Cairo. Gianluigi Guernia / AFP

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  A protester passes out due to the tear gas fired by the riot police in Cairo November 25, 2012. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

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  An Egyptian man walks by a burning Egyptian police truck during a demonstration against Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Morsi on November 23, 2012 in Cairo. Mahmoud Khaled / AFP

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  A general view shows protesters demonstrating against the President Mohamed Morsi's decree, at Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, 27 November 2012. Andre Pain / EPA

Throughout the week protesters clashed with police across Egypt as opposition groups rallied with renewed vigor in Tahrir Square to demonstrate against Mohammed Morsi who  recently granted himself near absolute powers.

After a week of street conflict, Mohammed Morsi tried to calm increasing unrest with a televised speech held on Thursday, November 29, 2012 addressing a nation deeply divided on Morsi's recent decree endowing him wide-ranging powers. The televised speech was reportedly pre-recorded as the constitutional assembly discussed article by article a final draft of a constitution that has been almost six months in the writing, and is now set to be approved by the assembly and put to a referendum.

(Excerpted from The National foreign correspondent Alice Fordham)

* Edited and sequenced by photo editor RJ Mickelson