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Muslim brotherhood calls for mass protests

Kashmir Times. Dated: 7/5/2013 9:59:39 PM

CAIRO, July 5 (Agencies): Egypt today braced itself for mass protests by angry supporters of deposed president Mohammed Morsi after Friday prayers following a massive crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood leadership by the Arab country's new army-backed administration.
As supporters of Morsi - the nation's first freely elected president - are all set to take to the streets, the powerful army has appealed for conciliation and warned against revenge attacks as violent clashes continued overnight.
The Muslim Brotherhood of which Morsi belongs called for countrywide demonstrations today despite fears that violence might further escalate.
After the armed forces removed Morsi on Wednesday night, at least 11 people have been killed and 516 others injured in clashes across the country, according to figure issued by the Health Ministry here.
In a statement, the 'National Alliance in Support of Electoral Legitimacy' asked its supporters "to mobilise in peaceful mass marches in all liberty squares and streets of Egypt, to be started from all mosques, after Friday prayers, to reject the heinous coup against popular will."
The coalition "affirmed its full and categorical rejection of the military coup – against the President, the Constitution and democratic legitimacy – and all consequent actions and effects", the statement said.
Following his ouster, 61-year-old Morsi was kept under detention along with some senior aides of his Muslim Brotherhood party.
The group held army responsible for the safety of Morsi.
Meanwhile, the army called for reconciliations, saying it will not allow acts of revenge between rival factions.
In a statement, the armed forces warned against "falling into an endless circle of revenge," saying it was keen to avoid any extraordinary or arbitrary measures against any faction or political movement, Al-Arabia reported.
"Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed to everyone," according to the army's statement.
However, it warned that "excessive use of this right without reason could carry some negative implications, including blocking roads, delaying public benefits and destroying institutions, posing a threat to social peace, the national interest and damaging the security and economy."
Soon after Morsi's ouster, a number of Islamist-linked television stations were taken off air and top Brotherhood leaders, including its supreme leader Mohammed Badie and former chairman Mahdi Aakef, were arrested.
Police are seeking another 300 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported.
Meanwhile, newly sworn-in interim president Adly Mansour made an attempt to heal the relationship with the Brotherhood, saying "the Muslim Brotherhood are part of this people and are invited to participate in building the nation as nobody will be excluded."
67-year-old Mansour has also issued a decree appointing Judge Aly Aoud Saleh as his constitutional advisor and Judge Mostafa Hegazy as his political advisor.
Besides, Mansour, the top judge of Egypt's High Constitutional Court, has pledged to hold elections based on "the genuine people's will".