VO: It’s being called a soft coup. In less than 24 hours, the ruling military junta tightened its grip on power and dealt a crushing blow to the country’s supposed transition to civilian rule and democracy. The government quietly reimposed martial law Wednesday night. The next day, Egypt’s highest court ruled that pro-military candidate Ahmed Shafiq could not be banned from running for president despite his links to Hosni Mubarak. And in a second ruling, the court ruled recent parliamentary elections partially invalid, effectively dissolving the newly elected parliament. Legislative powers will now be assumed by the military council until new parliamentary elections are held in 60 days. The military announced it will also assume control of selecting members of a constitutional assembly that will draft a new constitution.

PROTESTER: Invalid! Invalid!

VO: The rulings were not unexpected. Protesters here believe the judiciary takes orders from the military council.

PROTESTER: Down with the Military Council! Down with the Military Dogs!

VO: Now, regardless of who wins the elections being held this weekend, the military council will remain firmly in power, its generals more assured than ever they will preserve their immunity and vast economic interests.

PROTESTER: Tell the Field Marshall fear God in how you treat the people!

VO: As the elections approached, security forces were deployed throughout the country, harkening back to the Mubarak regime. Behind the court, walls of police and army soldiers lead protesters down a path into someone's farmland. As we film their journey, we are detained by these police officers and threatened with being jailed and our equipment taken despite our press credentials. 

LAWYER: There is a decree allowing the police to arbitrarily detain anyone, so [the Military Council] can rig the elections. There is this terrible law that was issued as a decree, giving the police and military intelligence broad authority. It’s a very repressive law, worse than the emergency law.

VO: At the court, chants rain out against the military junta and Ahmed Shafiq. 

PROTESTER: Ahmed Shafiq! He’s a thief! And he smokes hashish!

VO: When the court's rulings were finally announced, protesters erupted in anger. Surrounded by hundreds of heavily armed police and soldiers, the protest quickly dissipated.

Protester: Revolutionaries! To the square!

VO: Ahmed Shafiq announced the decision as a victory. The court rulings were a blow to the Muslim Brotherhood, which held a plurality in the parliament. But instead of joining a movement to boycott elections, presidential candidate, Mohammed Morsi, announced he would not drop out of the race.

PROTESTER: The Military Council: Invalid! General El-Fangari: Invalid! And Sami Annan (second in command): Invalid! And the Muslim Brotherhood: Invalid! Ahmed Shafiq: Invalid! …

PROTESTER: No, no the Brotherhood!

VO: Protesters took to the streets again on Friday, many of them accusing the Brotherhood of once again betraying the popular uprising that ousted Mubarak. Regardless, Ahmed Shafiq presents their greatest challenge.

PROTESTERS: They want to steal our revolution! Over our dead bodies will you take the revolution!

PROTESTER: This soap opera is so obvious! Even if the entire Middle East voted for Mohammed Morsi, he’s not going to win! That is what the laws say. Look and see who Ahmed Shafiq is…Ahmed Shafiq and his cronies. He was nominated by the Military Council. We can’t get fooled like this again!

PROTESTER: If we say the Brotherhood is doing no good, it won’t take two hours, because we won’t be at war with the Military Council. We’ll be at war with the Brotherhood. Everyone is against the Brotherhood. It won’t take two hours, we’ll take over the square (and remove them). But with Ahmed Shafiq, he has thugs, the military, the Military Council…So what is coming, will be very hard for us. It’s going to be very hard for all Egyptian people. This ruing means the military is coming back.

VO: Many activists say there is one last line of defense against a complete military takeover…another massive uprising.  

PROTESTERS: Down, down with the Military Council!

PROTESTERS: With our shoes! Shafiq!

VO: As protesters marched, their chants against Mubarak's former prime minister grew louder. 

STAND-UP: This is an example of how revolutionaries feel about the pro-military candidate Ahmed Shafiq. They’re ripping down one of his billboards and they’ve been doing this for the last couple of weeks. And as you can see, there’s lot of jubilation over the desecration of Ahmed Shafiq’s face. A direct reflection of how the revolution feels about him.

PROTESTERS: Ahmed Shafiq! Invalid!

VO: This rally, miles away from Tahrir started out small. But hundreds more soon joined…