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Thousands of supporters of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood have been demonstrating in Cairo’s Nasr City district, waving pictures of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, as the anti-Morsi camp planned a mass evening gathering in Tahrir Square yesterday. Crowds in Nasr City were chanting anti-military slogans, calling Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, the country’s army chief, a traitor for removing of Morsi from office last week.
Thousands of people were bussed in from outside the capital to join the sit-in at Rabaa El Adaweiya Mosque yesterday.
Earlier in the day, the pro-Morsi camp announced a march to the presidential palace, but their path was blocked by the militray, so the march was diverted back to Rabaa.
Smaller rallies were also expected to take place in other governorates.
Meanwhile, members of prominent anti-Morsi groups such as Tamarod (Rebellion), the National Salvation Front and the 30 June Steering Committee were calling for people to gather for a mass Iftar and post-evening prayers in Tahrir Square and in front of the Itahadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo.
The military has announced a large scale deployment across the capital and other parts of the country to maintain security and to ensure the rival gatherings remain separate.
The army said it had deployed security personnel around vital installations in Cairo including the presidential palace, the Republican Guard barracks, the Defence Ministry as well as near vital bridges and thoroughfares. The military was also blocking roads linking the presidential palace where the anti-Morsi crowd was expected to gather at sundown and Rabaa mosque.
On Thursday, the Muslim Brotherhood vowed to keep protesting until Morsi was reinstated, despite the fact that much of the group’s leadership has been detained by the army. Egypt’s new prime minister said on Thursday he did not rule out Muslim Brotherhood members in his cabinet, even as the group vowed to keep defying the military action that resulted in Morsi’s fall from power.
Hazem al-Beblawi, who was appointed on Tuesday, said he was still considering the make-up of his interim government.
Beblawi will start contacting candidates for cabinet ministries on Sunday and Monday with a view to having the cabinet sworn in by the end of next week, he said yesterday.
“I don’t look at political association . . . If someone is named from [the Brotherhood’s] Freedom and Justice Party, if he is qualified for the post he may be considered,” Beblawi said. “I’m taking two criteria for the next government. Efficiency and credibility.”
The Brotherhood has already rejected a Beblawi offer to join the new government and pledged to continue agitation.
The protests since Morsi’s removal have often been deadly, with the death of 53 people, mostly Morsi supporters, in clashes around an army building on Monday.
Police have been hunting for the Brotherhood leader, Mohammed Badie, after a warrant was issued for his arrest on Wednesday. — AP
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