Wed Jul 17, 2013 22:34:08
Hundreds of opponents of Egypt’s new interim government have staged a protest rally in Cairo to show their support for deposed President Mohamed Morsi.
Hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters massed outside the cabinet headquarters in central Cairo on Wednesday evening.
Carrying posters of the ousted president and chanting slogans against the army, the angry demonstrators denounced the country's new military-backed interim government and demanded Morsi’s reinstatement.
The supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood also accused the military of having staged a coup against the country’s first democratically elected leader.
Sporadic scuffles were reported between the Egyptian police and the protestors.
The fresh clashes come two days after seven people were killed and more than 200 wounded in fighting between Morsi loyalists and security forces in and around Cairo.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Army spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali said that Morsi is not under arrest, but rather being held in the custody of the Egyptian army in a bid to protect him.
"In light of the instability in Egypt, protecting Morsi is a top priority," he said.
Reports also say, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has travelled to Egypt to discuss the country’s crisis. Her visit to the troubled North African country comes a day after Egypt's new 34-member cabinet was sworn in.
On July 3, the head of Egypt’s army General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi announced that president Mohamed Morsi was no longer in power. Al-Sisi also dissolved the Egyptian constitution.
The Chief Justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court, Adli Mansour, was sworn in as interim president on July 4.
Since then, Egypt has been the scene of rival rallies and clashes between thousands of the supporters and opponents of Morsi.
NTJ/HH
string(2358) "[{"id":"1492707","sort":"3054194","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/08/alalam_635088742743202153_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt army kills dozens of pro-Morsi protesters"} ,{"id":"1493221","sort":"3054195","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/09/alalam_635089846958487654_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt’s Brotherhood turns down election offer"} ,{"id":"1493245","sort":"3054196","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/09/alalam_635089961505690887_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Beblawi appointed as Egypt's interim PM"} ,{"id":"1493577","sort":"3054197","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/10/alalam_635090820518053789_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood leader arrest ordered"} ,{"id":"1493716","sort":"3054198","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/11/alalam_635091324110300102_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt PM struggles to form cabinet amid row"} ,{"id":"1494202","sort":"3054199","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/12/alalam_635092568336913395_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Morsi supporters rally in Cairo to defy coup"} ,{"id":"1494800","sort":"3054200","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/15/alalam_635094904882103648_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt former US ambassador appointed as FM"} ,{"id":"1494901","sort":"3054201","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/14/alalam_635094394604693535_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"ElBaradei sworn in as Egypt’s new VP"} ,{"id":"1494951","sort":"3054202","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/15/alalam_635094716071792928_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"3 killed in bomb attack in Egypt's Sinai"} ,{"id":"1494993","sort":"3054203","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/15/alalam_635094828392172538_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Brotherhood and Egypt army secretly hold talks"} ,{"id":"1495078","sort":"3054204","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/15/alalam_635095008237498203_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt sees the return of the old regime"} ,{"id":"1495194","sort":"3054205","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/15/alalam_635095251376904964_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt orders arrest of seven Brotherhood leaders"} ,{"id":"1495487","sort":"3054206","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/16/alalam_635095938684168796_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt overnight clashes claim seven lives"} ,{"id":"1495547","sort":"3054207","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/07/16/alalam_635096112996484203_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Egypt's interim cabinet swears in, MB rejects"} ]"