Daring the military-backed Government, supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on Monday called for a “million person march” on Tuesday against his ouster, even as the police arrested two top leaders of an Islamist party in a widening of crackdown on protesters.
“We call for a million person march under the banner of ‘Martyrs of the Coup’ on Tuesday,” the Anti-Coup Alliance of Islamist groups organising the protests stated.
On Monday, pro-Morsi Wasat Party head Abul Ela Mady and his deputy Essam Sultan were both arrested in Cairo for involvement in killing protesters in recent violence.
In the worst violence seen since 61-year-old Morsi was deposed by the army on July 3, 80 people were killed in clashes with the security forces on Saturday. The Brotherhood’s official website said at least 200 people were killed and 5,000 wounded. Both men were arrested on charges of inciting violence, killing protesters and insulting the judiciary.
Mady and Sultan were arrested in the Moqattam district of the Egyptian capital, and were then sent to Aqrab prison, where nine Muslim Brotherhood leaders are being held, State-run MENA news agency reported.
Prosecutors also ordered the arrest of Safwat Hegazy, a preacher known for his ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, on charges of inciting violence, after he led a march from Rabea al-Adaweya sit-in to Nasr Road which degenerated into deadly clashes with security forces.
Muslim Brotherhood supporters on Monday said they staged three marches, including one targeted at the headquarters of military intelligence.Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad el-Haddaf was quoted by the BBC as saying that there was no intervention by the military and no confrontation.
He said the march “circled the building for a good 10 to 15 minutes with a lot of chants of ‘down with the coup’”. However, one report suggests many turned back before reaching the building.Protesters are continuing to stage large sit-ins in the capital to call for Morsi’s reinstatement.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is in Cairo for talks. She will meet leaders of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, head of the Egyptian armed forces Gen Fattah al-Sisi and interim President Adly Mansour.
In a statement, she said she would push for a “fully inclusive transition process, taking in ll political groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood”. The Muslim Brotherhood iscontinuing to demand Morsi’s return to office, with a large protest camp outside the eastern Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque and further west near Cairo University.
Morsi, who is facing criminal charges in many cases, was last seen in public on June 26 and has been detained along with senior aides of his Muslim Brotherhood party. The security forces have been accused of using excessive force, but the interior ministry says protesters used firearms.
In a further warning, the National Defence Council, which includes members of the interim government and the military, warned yesterday of “firm and decisive” action against protesters who go beyond peaceful demonstration.
Egypt’s “Rebel” (Tamarod) campaign issued a statement yesterday saying they are highly concerned with comments made by Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim that they understood as foregrounding the possible return of the notorious Mubarak-era state security apparatus.
In a press conference held by the interior ministry on Saturday, Ibrahim announced that departments of state security tasked with fighting extremism and monitoring political and religious activity, terminated after the January 25 Revolution, have been reinstated.
The bloodshed has thrown Egypt into deeper turmoil weeks.The violence has claimed the lives of dozens and wounded hundreds since Morsi’s ouster from the presidency.
The US, Canada and the United Nations have called for calm and peace in Egypt amidst escalation of violence in the post populous Arab country. PTI