Morsi supporters call new Egypt protests

 

Supporters of Egypt's ousted president on Monday called for new protests, threatening to deepen the country's crisis as the EU foreign policy chief extended her visit to discuss the stand-off.

 

The Anti-Coup Alliance of Islamist groups organising protests against the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi urged demonstrators to march on security buildings on Monday night and called a million-man march for Tuesday. Their statement came after the National Defence Council warned late Sunday it would take "decisive and firm action" against demonstrators if they went beyond their right to peaceful protest. 

 

Tensions were already running high after the deaths of 72 people at a pro-Morsi rally in Cairo on Saturday. The White House on Monday "strongly" condemned the recent violence, and urged the military-backed interim government to respect the rights of demonstrators. A security source said on Monday that a police officer had died of wounds sustained in the violence.

 

 "We... call for a million person march under the banner of 'Martyrs of the Coup' on Tuesday," the Anti-Coup Alliance said in a statement. 

 

The group urged Egyptians "to go out into the streets and squares, to regain their freedom and dignity -- that are being usurped by the bloody coup -- and for the rights of the martyrs assassinated by its bullets". It also called for protesters to march on security buildings across Egypt on Monday night "to condemn the criminal acts and the firing of live ammunition by the interior ministry at peaceful demonstrators". 

 

The calls raised the possibility of fresh confrontations after the National Defence Council warned protesters "not to exceed their rights to peaceful, responsible expression of their opinions". The council said demonstrators would face "decisive and firm decisions and actions in response to any violations". The military issued its own warning, urging protesters not to "approach military facilities or units, help us to protect your safety," it said. 

 

With tensions rising, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton decided to extend a visit that began late Sunday by a day. She has already met interim president Adly Mansur, vice president for international affairs Mohamed ElBaradei and army chief General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. On Monday night, she also met presentatives of the pro-Morsi coalition, but was not expected to comment on her discussions until Tuesday. 

 

ElBaradei's office said he had "stressed that Egyptianauthorities are doing everything possible to achieve a peaceful way out of the crisis," a statement said. Ashton said earlier she would be calling for "a fully inclusive transition... including the Muslim rotherhood", which has insisted that any solution to the crisis must involve Morsi's return to office.

 

The bloodshed in the Arab world's most populous nation has sparked mounting international concern, with UN leader Ban Ki-moon warning Egypt's interim leadership on Sunday that every death made it harder to end the crisis. 

 

Ban "expressed his profound concern about the direction in which the transition in Egypt is moving" and condemned the heightened violence, UN spokeswoman Morana Song said. He urged the authorities to protect "all Egyptians, regardless of party affiliation", Song added. 

 

A group of Egyptian NGOs issued a statement on Monday calling for interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim to be dismissed over what it called a "massacre," but also urged the Brotherhood to denounce violence. 

 

"The interior minister should be dismissed and held accountable for his actions," the groups wrote, urging Morsi supporters to "take action to persuade their colleagues and leaders to renounce" violence.  In its first comments on the bloodshed, the interim presidency said Sunday that it was "saddened" by the deaths, but dubbed the protest area where they occurred a "terror-originating spot". 

 

A crackdown on Morsi supporters continued Monday, with the arrest of two leaders of the moderate Islamist Wasat party -- president Abul Ala Mady and vice president Essam Sultan. State news agency MENA said they were being investigated on suspicion of inciting violence and murder. The party has joined the protests calling for the reinstatement of Morsi, who has been in custody since just hours after his July 3 ouster. 

 

Last week, he was formally charged with offences related to his escape from prison during the 2011 uprising that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak. In the Sinai Peninsula, where security has deteriorated rapidly since the 2011 uprising, a security source said a policeman was killed when gunmen attacked a police station in El-Arish. A second police officer was wounded in a separate attack in the town of Sheikh Zuweid in the northern Sinai, the source added.

 

- Sapa-AFP