Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi removed General Prosecutor Abdel Maguid Mahmoud from his post and appointed him ambassador to the Vatican, in an attempt to ease public anger over acquittals of officials under the Hosni Mubarak regime accused of planning attacks on protesters last year.

However, Morsi's decision is expected to draw controversy as Mahmoud reportedly said that he will continue to carry out the duties according to the law of judicial authority.

This comes after a Cairo court acquitted 24 Mubarak-era politicians and government officials accused of killing eleven protesters during last year’s uprising, citing a lack of evidence.