Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has claimed the country's disputed Islamic constitution establishes a new republic.

The president signed the new constitution into law after it was approved by a public referendum. But opponents question its legitimacy.

They say it was passed with a very low voter turnout of around 33 percent. They argue it enshrines Islamic rule, restricts freedom, and ignores the rights of children and minorities.

Morsi, himself a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, disagreed.

He insisted the public approved the document and that it respects human dignity. He's calling on the opposition to talk about the disagreements over the new charter.