EGYPTIANS PROTEST AGAINST SISI GOVERNMENT

Kairo, 21 Sya’ban 1435/19 June 2014 (MINA) –Egyptians have once again protested against the government of the newly elected President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in the country’s second largest city, Alexandria, on Wednesday, condemning the military-led ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi and calling for his reinstatement, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

A similar demonstration took place in Qalyubia Province, north of the capital Cairo, where protesters expressed support for the ousted president and called for his return to power.

The protesters also slammed the military-backed government of Sisi for its clampdown on supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood movement.

They also condemned a recent decision by an Egyptian court to sentence a dozen of the group’s leaders and members to death.

The 12 were sentenced to death on Wednesday on charges of being linked to the deadly shooting of Major General Nabil Farag last year.

The court’s ruling comes days after Sisi was sworn in as Egypt’s new president.

Egypt has been the scene of anti-government protests with persistent clashes between security forces and demonstrators since the army ouster of Morsi in July last year.

Rights groups say the army’s clampdown on the supporters of Morsi has left over 1,400 people dead and thousands jailed.

Hundreds of the former president’s supporters have also been sentenced to death so far.

Sisi’s presidency places Egypt back in the hands of a top military official just three years after a popular uprising against Hosni Mubarak, an air force officer who ruled the North African country for nearly three decades. (T/P012/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)