Cairo (Alshahid)-Egypt’s first democratically elected president is due to be sworn in officially on June 30.

Dr Mohamed Mursi, champion of the long-banned Muslim Brotherhood, will be the first Egypt’s first civilian president.

On the eve of his official swearing-in on Saturday, Morsi praised Muslims and Christians alike in front of crowds that packed the birthplace of the revolt that overthrew his predecessor Hosni Mubarak last year.

In a rousing speech, he promised dignity and social justice and swore to uphold the constitution and “the republican system”, reciting the words of an oath which he will now formally take in front of the supreme constitutional court.

“I will look after the interests of the people and protect the independence of the nation and the safety of its territory,” he said and promised to preserve a civil state.

Mursi’s speech has been interpreted as a defiant challenge to the army and generals who have been trying to limit his powers

An army council headed by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi took over from Hosni Mubarak last year and has long pledged to make way for an elected president by 1 July.

Mr Tantawi, Mubarak’s defence minister for 20 years, would hand over to Dr Mursi in a televised ceremony this morning after the president was sworn in, army sources said.