Story highlights President Mohamed Morsy would reportedly consider postponing a referendum vote

Protesters break barricade at the presidential palace in Cairo

Dozens throw rocks and bottles at Morsy's home in Sharkia province

Morsy says those responsible for violence must be punished

For a second day, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy's home was not spared from the wrath of protesters who remain unconvinced of his defense of recent controversial decisions.

Dozens of protesters threw rocks and glass bottles at the home in Sharkia province Friday and tried to push aside a police barrier, said Alaa Mahmoud, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry.

Two policemen and several protesters were injured, and four people were arrested.

Protesters also made their message clear at the presidential palace in Cairo, where thousands broke through a barricade and sprayed graffiti on the palace walls. Guards at the palace did not engage the protesters.

Crowds also gathered at Cairo's Tahrir Square but were largely calm, unlike the night before.

Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – A street vendor grills corn as Egyptian soldiers stand guard at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, December 18, in Cairo. Protesters opposed to President Mohamed Morsy's first round of voting in the constitutional referendum gather during continuing demonstrations. Hide Caption 1 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration at the Presidential Palace on December 18 in Cairo. Hide Caption 2 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – An Egyptian woman types on her laptop before the start of a demonstration opposing President Mohamed Morsy on December 18 in Cairo. Hide Caption 3 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – People make their way through a market place on Monday, December 17, in Cairo. Hide Caption 4 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – A supporter of Egypt's President Mohamed Morsy and the Muslim Brotherhood holds Quran as he shouts during a demonstration in Cairo on Friday, December 14. Hide Caption 5 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Women pray during a demonstration in support of President Mohamed Morsy in Cairo on December 14. Hide Caption 6 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Egyptian army tanks are deployed outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Thursday, December 13. Egypt's crisis showed no sign of easing as the army delayed unity talks meant to ease political divisions and the opposition set near-impossible demands for taking part in a looming constitutional referendum. Hide Caption 7 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Girls walk with Egypt's national flag draped over their backs to a rally for supporters of President Mohamed Morsy in Cairo on Tuesday, December 11. Hide Caption 8 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Protesters on December 11 attempt to bring down cement walls that security forces placed around the presidential palace in Cairo. Hide Caption 9 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Security forces stand guard in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on December 11. Hide Caption 10 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Protesters opposed to Egypt's president demonstrate on top of a barricade erected by the Egyptian army to protect the presidential palace in Cairo on December 11. Hide Caption 11 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – A young protester climbs atop a barricade erected by the Egyptian army on December 11. There were no incidents of violence and soldiers held the line as a couple of hundred protesters pressed up against waist-high crowd barriers. Hide Caption 12 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Protesters remove part of a metal barrier protecting the presidential palace on December 11. Hide Caption 13 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Egyptian army troops stand guard in front of a metal barricade on December 11. Hide Caption 14 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – An Egyptian army soldier patrols outside the Egyptian presidential palace on Monday, December 10, in Cairo. The Egyptian political crisis erupted last month when President Mohamed Morsy issued an edict allowing himself to run the country unchecked until the drafting of a new constitution. Hide Caption 15 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Members of the Egyptian opposition gather for a protest outside the presidential palace on Sunday, December 9, in Cairo. The palace has been the scene of violent clashes pitting thousands of protesters -- for and against Morsy. Hide Caption 16 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Guy Fawkes masks are displayed by a street vendor in front of the Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo on December 9. The masks depict Fawkes, a rebel executed in England's Gunpowder Plot seeking to blow up the House of Lords in the early 1600s. Hide Caption 17 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – Egyptian army engineers and soldiers build a third line of concrete blocks outside of the Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo in preparation for more protests on December 9. Hide Caption 18 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest presidential powers – An Egyptian protester sweeps the street near army tanks deployed outside the presidential palace in Cairo on December 8, after continued protests overnight. Hide Caption 19 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – A sticker depicting Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy reads "leave" on the ground near the presidential palace on December 8. Hide Caption 20 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Egyptian soldiers take position on a road leading to the presidential palace on December 8. Hide Caption 21 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – A protester tries to climb over a barbed-wire fence as Egyptian soldiers stand guard during a demonstration near the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, December 7. Hide Caption 22 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy and members of the Muslim Brotherhood shout during the funerals of fellow Morsy supporters at Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo on December 7. Hide Caption 23 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Protesters angry over Morsy's decisions giving himself unchecked powers surround the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo after starting a fire inside the compound on Thursday, December 6. Hide Caption 24 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Riot police form a line as anti-Morsy protesters surge around the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo on December 6. Hide Caption 25 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – An anti-Morsy protester shouts during a march to the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on December 6. Hide Caption 26 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Protesters are blocked from approaching the the presidential palace by the Egyptian army on December 6 in Cairo. Hide Caption 27 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Egyptian soldiers stand outside the presidential palace in Cairo after setting up barbed wire barricades on December 6. Hide Caption 28 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Supporters of Morsy clash with anti-Morsy protesters outside the Egyptian presidential palace on Wednesday, December 5, in Cairo. Hide Caption 29 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsy supporters destroy tents of anti-Morsy protesters outside the presidential palace on December 5. Hide Caption 30 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Morsy supporters carry an injured man to safety during clashes with anti-Morsy demonstrators on a road leading to the Egyptian presidential palace on December 5. Hide Caption 31 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of Morsy clash with anti-Morsy demonstrators on a road leading to the Egyptian presidential palace on December 5. Hide Caption 32 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Egyptian riot police stand behind barbwire as thousands of Egyptian demonstrators march to the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, December 4. Hide Caption 33 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Tens of thousands of demonstrators encircled the presidential palace in Cairo after riot police failed to keep them at bay with tear gas on December 4. Hide Caption 34 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – An Egyptian woman waves a national flag as demonstrators march to the presidential palace in Cairo on December 4. Hide Caption 35 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – A Morsy supporter waves a flag outside the Supreme Constitutional Court as hundreds of supporters of the president protest on Sunday, December 2, in Cairo, forcing judges to postpone a hearing on a constitutional panel at the heart of a deepening political crisis. Hide Caption 36 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Supporters of Morsy pray outside the Supreme Constitutional Court on December 2. Hide Caption 37 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – A man kisses a portrait of Morsy during a gathering of thousands of Islamists in front of Cairo University on Saturday, December 1. Hide Caption 38 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Thousands pray during a rally in support of Morsy in front of Cairo University on December 1. Hide Caption 39 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – An Egyptian man delivers a speech as protesters gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, November 30. Hide Caption 40 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – A man shouts as protesters gather in Tahrir Square on November 30. Hide Caption 41 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – A man holds a copy of the Quran and a cross in Tahrir Square on November 30. Hide Caption 42 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Protesters run from Egyptian riot police during clashes near Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, November 28. Hide Caption 43 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – A protester carries a rock during clashes with police on Wednesday. Hide Caption 44 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Egyptians carry a giant national flag as tens of thousands take part in a mass rally in Cairo on Tuesday, November 27, against a decree by President Mohamed Morsy granting himself broad powers. Hide Caption 45 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – An Egyptian protester holds up a Quran and a figure of Christ on the cross during Tuesday's demonstration. Hide Caption 46 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Protesters continue to rally in Tahrir Square on Tuesday. Hide Caption 47 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – An Egyptian protester attempts to throw back a tear gas canister on Tuesday during clashes with riot police in Omar Makram Street, off Tahrir Square. Hide Caption 48 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Activists in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, November 26, carry the coffin of Gaber Salah, an activist who died overnight after he was critically injured in clashes in Cairo. Salah, a member of the April 6 movement known by his nickname "Jika," was injured last week during confrontations between police and protesters on Cairo's Mohammed Mahmud street. Hide Caption 49 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Thousands of activists attend the funeral of Gaber Salah on Monday. Hide Caption 50 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Protesters clash with Egyptian police at Simon Bolivar Square on Sunday, November 25, in Cairo. Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood called nationwide demonstrations in support of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in his showdown with the judges over the path to a new constitution. Hide Caption 51 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Egyptian protesters hurl stones at police at Tahrir Square on Sunday. Hide Caption 52 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Protesters gather at sit-in tents in Tahrir Square on Sunday. Hide Caption 53 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy waves to supporters in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, November 23. Thousands of ecstatic supporters gathered outside the presidential palace to defend their leader against accusations from rival protesters that he has become a dictator. Hide Caption 54 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Morsy supporters gather outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday. Morsy insisted that Egypt was on the path to "freedom and democracy," as protesters held rival rallies over sweeping powers he assumed that further polarized the country's political forces. Hide Caption 55 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Protesters demonstrating against Morsy run from tear gas fired by Egyptian riot police during clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday. Hide Caption 56 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Egyptian protesters throw rocks toward riot police on Friday Hide Caption 57 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Egyptian supporters and opponents of Morsy clash in the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday. Hide Caption 58 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – A man throws a rock during clashes in Alexandria on Friday. Hide Caption 59 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Thousands of demonstrators march through the streets of Cairo to protest against Morsy on Friday. Hide Caption 60 of 61 Photos: Egyptians protest president's powers Egyptians protest over presidential powers – Clashes rocked the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday. Hide Caption 61 of 61

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In remarks Thursday night -- his latest since the bloodiest stretch in two weeks of political unrest -- Morsy refused to back off the controversial edict he issued or his nation's upcoming constitutional referendum, saying he respects peaceful opposition to his decisions but won't stand for violence.

On Friday, Egyptian Vice President Mahmoud Mekki told CBC, a private Egyptian TV station, that Morsy would consider postponing the referendum, so long as there are no legal challenges to the postponement.

The president has agreed to delay the vote for expatriates until Wednesday, said chief of staff Refaa El-Tahtawy. That vote was previously set for Saturday.

During his Thursday speech, the president condemned those involved in the clashes -- referring specifically to those with weapons and who are backed by members of the "corrupt ... ex-regime." He promised they'd be held accountable.

"(They) will not escape punishment," the president said in a televised speech.

Yet Morsy's threat not only failed to mollify many protesters on the streets, it further enraged them. Activists camped in the square chanted "Leave! Leave! Leave!" as the president talked.

And minutes after the speech ended, the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo was "ablaze," state TV reported, citing witnesses. The Islamist group said on its website and Twitter that the building had come under "a terrorist attack," with hundreds surrounding it. By early Friday, there was no sign of a fire or significant damage.

The National Salvation Front, an umbrella group of opposition organizations, called for large-scale demonstrations against a government it says has "lost legitimacy," said the group, as reported by the semiofficial al-Ahram newspaper.

Such a call for action -- and the sustained presence in Tahrir Square -- suggests activists are undaunted by threats from Morsy and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group tied to him. The group was banned under longtime President Hosni Mubarak but is now Egypt's dominant political force.

On Twitter, the Brotherhood has said it will hold opposition figures "fully responsible for escalation of violence & inciting their supporters."

Adel Saeed, a spokesman for Egypt's newly appointed general prosecutor, said Friday morning that Hamdeen Sabahi, Mohamed ElBaradei and Amr Moussa are being investigated for allegedly "conspiring to topple" the government. All three are well-known internationally -- with ElBaradei being a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Moussa a onetime head of the Arab League -- and are now being probed for their role in the opposition against Morsy, who defeated all three in this year's presidential election.

ElBaradei said on Twitter: "I call upon all the national forces and figures not to participate in a dialogue that lacks all the basics of a truthful discourse. We support a dialogue that is not based on the policy of arm-twisting and forcing the status quo."

During an interview with Al-Arabiya, an Arabic news network, ElBaradei called on Morsy to postpone the referendum vote and to "rescind the constitutional declaration." He added that "only then will the opposition engage in dialogue."

Those taking part in the protests around the North African nation say the scenes are similar to those of the 2011 uprising that led to Mubarak's ouster. This time, they say, dissent is being vigorously stamped out by Morsy's backers in government and on the street.

Specifically, they spoke of thugs with knives and rocks chasing activists, presidential backers belittling opponents and pressure from various quarters to go home and be quiet.

"It's exactly the same battle," said Hasan Amin, a CNN iReporter.

A November 22 edict by Morsy, in which he made his decisions immune to judicial oversight until a new constitution is voted upon, set off the latest wave of political unrest. And it's been growing -- and growing more violent -- in recent days.

Opposition leaders have been clear in saying what would mollify them: Morsy must roll back his edict granting himself expanded presidential powers and must postpone a December 15 referendum on a proposed constitution, which they say doesn't adequately represent or protect all Egyptians.

Morsy previously said the edict was necessary to defend the revolution, and his administration has insisted the proposed constitution was drafted legally. If people vote it down, the president said Thursday night that he'd form a new assembly to draft another constitution.

Yet opposition activists haven't shown any indication that they trust Morsy on that or other counts. They accuse him of consolidating power for himself and the Muslim Brotherhood, in part by having an Islamist-dominated group push through the draft constitution.

This internal strife has helped transform the area around the presidential palace in Cairo into a war zone. Streets littered with rubble and burned cars were defined by barbed-wire barricades, patrolling soldiers, parked tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Beyond the popular unrest, Morsy's inner circle was shaken when Rafik Habib, the deputy head of the Freedom and Justice Party, resigned Thursday, party spokesman Ahmed Sobe said. Habib did not give a reason.

His resignation brings to five the number of presidential advisers who have left in the past two days. It is the first, however, from the Freedom and Justice Party.

Egyptian judges and media organizations also staged strikes to show their displeasure with the situation. And 11 organizations representing lawyers, journalists, writers, actors, musicians and tour guides said Morsy and the Muslim Brotherhood were behind the violence, al-Ahram reported.

The group said it would call for Morsy's ouster if the administration failed to protect protesters and "fulfill the aspirations of the January 25 revolution," the newspaper said.

Vice President Mekki asked critics Wednesday to submit their proposals for improving the constitution, and Morsy invited political opponents to a meeting Saturday at the presidential palace.