MASS PRO-MORSI AND ANTI-MORSI RALLIES IN CAIRO FRIDAY NIGHT
Cairo, 11 Ramadan 1434/19 July 2013 (MINA) – Thousands of supporters of deposed president Morsi march in Cairo and governorates on the Friday of ‘Breaking the Coup’; thousands of anti-Morsi demonstrators celebrate army victory over Israel in 1973 war in Tahrir.
Mass protests in support of deposed president Mohamed Morsi have been underway across Cairo and other parts of the country since the afternoon hours of Friday.
Hundreds of thousands of pro-Morsi demonstrators condemn what they say was a military coup against the country’s first democratically elected leader, according to Ahram Online report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
Meanwhile, thousands of anti-Morsi demonstrators have flocked in the early evening hours to the Ittihadiya presidential palace and Tahrir Square to celebrate ‘the success’ of the 30 June that toppled Morsi as well as the anniverssary of Egypt’s victory over Israel in the 10th of Ramadan/ 6th of October 1973 war.
Tahrir celebrates army 1973 victory
A number of pro-Morsi marches converged outside Cairo University in Giza early Friday afternoon.
Other marches made their way to Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo’s Nasr City, where Morsi supporters have been protesting since his ouster.
Military helicopters flew endless sorties over Pro-Morsi rallies across the capital.
Protest leaders at Rabaa Al-Adawiya called on demonstrators to march to the nearby Republican Guard headquarters, the venue of clashes between Morsi supporters and the army that killed at least 51 on 8 July.
Ahram Online reporter Ahmed Eleiba said soldiers had stopped tens of thousands of Morsi supporters en route from Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque to Abbassiya where the Ministry of Defence is located.
“Soldiers have been heavily deployed along Salah Salem Road in Nasr City and other major streets near the march.”
Muslim Brotherhood leaders are at the march, Eleiba added. Protesters were chanting “Peaceful, peaceful!”
“Egyptians participated today after they recognised that 30 June [protests] were exploited to carry out a coup against the democratic course, and that their freedom, dignity and right to choose have been attacked,” Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Uasser Mehrez said on Friday.
He also condemned what he described as widespread media blackout against Islamist protests.
Meanwhile, well-known writer Mohamed Abdel Kodous, who was taking part in a pro-Morsi Giza march, said protesters will remain steadfast until the president and the legitimacy is back, Al-Dostour Al-Assly reported.
The pro-Brotherood writer, who is a longstanding member of the executive board of the Journalists’ Syndicate, said that no negotiations with the army will take place unless arrested Brotehrhood leaders are released and the freezing of their assets is lifted.
Abdel Kodous went on, however, to slam the ‘extremist’ discourse at the main pro-Morsi vigil outside Rabaa Al-Adawiya mosque saying it has repulsed the public.
Anti-Morsi protesters have said they are concerned that supporters of the ex-president will approach Tahrir Square and the presidential palace, raising the spectre of fresh violence.
Security measures have been stepped in the vicinity of Tahrir Square in an attempt to prevent clashes.
Storming hospital
Tens of Morsi loyalists have stormed Friday the Abbasiya Hospital for Mental illnesses, climbing through the fences before setting camp in the hospital’s garden.
The move comes after roughly five thousand pro-Morsi protesters, according to Ahram Arabic Website, blocked the Salah Salem road in both directions near the Abbasiya Hospital, causing the traffic to come to a standstill.
Pictures of storming the hospital grounds have been circulating the social media websites by passengers in grounded vehicles.
Brief clashes
Military forces fired teargas in the evening at a group of pro-Morsi protesters near the presidential palace in Heliopolis, in a bid to hold them back from accessing a nearby street, where rival anti-Morsi rallies are taking place, state news agency MENA reported.
Protesters, however, continued to attempt to push past the army lines. Troops responded by firing more volleys of teargas to disperse the crowd, MENA added.
One of the protest organisers called on 50 women to move to the frontline in the fight to deter the army from attacking the march.
Morsi supporters mobilise nationwide
Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi protested across Egypt’s governorates on Friday.
Thousands gathered at Alexandria’s Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque and chanted anti-military slogans such as “[army chief] El-Sisi, Morsi is my president.”
In Gharbiya’s Tanta hundreds called for Morsi’s return to the presidency.
In Sharqiya’s Zagazig protesters chanted slogans such as “Say it strong, Morsi is the president” and “We are not afraid of the thugs, we will protect ourselves by legitimacy.”
The army committed a coup against Egypt’s legitimate president, Ahmed Shehata, the Freedom and Justice Party’s leader in Zagazig, told Al-Ahram Arabic news website.
Hundreds gathered in Fayoum after Friday prayers. They called for army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to stand trial for “carrying out a coup” against Morsi.
In Upper Egypt’s Beni Suef, thousands called for the reinstatement of Morsi and the suspended constitution. They chanted against El-Sisi and the ‘pro-coup’ media.
Thousands rallied in Marsa Matrouh in north western Egypt after Friday prayers.
Millions of people took the streets demanding Muhamad Morsi’s reinstatement after Jum’ah pray. The FJP’s official website released map list of starting points of “Coup Breakdown” demonstrations in Cairo and Giza.
The point areas are:
1 Al-Khazindar mosque Shubra
2 Suhaib Er-Rumy mosque Sharabiya
3 As-Salam mosque Nour City, Az-Zawiya
4 Taqwa mosque Kobry Orabi, Shubra Al-Khaima
5 Al-Quds mosque Ain Shams street, Marg
6 Nour Al-Mohammady mosque Matariya Square
7 Al-Aziz Bel-lah mosque Helmiyyat Az-Zaitoun
8 As-Salam mosque 10th District, Nasr City
9 Al-Hamd mosque Al-Tagamu’ Al-Khames
10 Mahdi mosque Al-Arba’een street, Salam City
11 Maraghi mosque Helwan
12 Amr ibn Al-As Old Cairo
13 Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem mosque Salah Salem street
14 Mostafa Mahmoud mosque Mohandeseen
15 Maghfira mosque Mohandeseen
16 Sabbah mosque Haram street
17 Mashay Mosque Haram street
18 Tawhid Mosque Arish street of Faisal street
After Friday Prayer, demonstrations in all mosques to be joined together in the nearest starting point. In the same timing, huge demonstrations in all Egypt’s governorates to take place under the banner “People Demand the End of the Coup”.(T/P03/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
