Africa

Africa

Egyptians rally in Cairo protesting against Morsi

18 May 2013 02:46 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Hundreds of protesters flocked Friday to central Tahrir Square in Egyptian capital of Cairo to join demonstrations condemning the rule of President Mohamed Morsi and ruling Muslim Brotherhood group, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The demonstrations dubbed as "Back to Square" were called by some political movements, including April 6 Movement, Revolutionary Youth Coalition and the Egyptian Popular Current as well as some liberal parties like Dostour Party.

Some protesters on the podium, set up in the iconic square, chanted slogans against the army, witnesses told Xinhua. But the protesters in the square responded by chanting "the army and the people are one hand."

Different marches from several districts gathered into the square, at the head of one march people were carrying two large banners, one reading "an early presidential election" and the other "a unifying constitution for Egypt," he added.

Traffic movement is partially back to normal in the Square after protesters opened the way to cars from one direction. Scores of protestors set up vigilance committees to organize the entry of protesters to the square.

In anticipation of any clashes, security measures had been intensified around the interior ministry, close to Tahrir Square, as it has been the scene of violent confrontations in the past, official news agency MENA reported.

Also security forces have been spreading in the vicinity of the al-Etahdeya Presidential palace in Masr al-Gedeeda district and near the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Moqattam district.

The opposition accuses Morsi of governing only in the interests of his Muslim Brotherhood, while he repeated in every occasion he is the "president of all Egyptians."

The recent "Tamarrud" (Arabic for "rebel") campaign that aims to put pressure on Morsi to call for an early presidential election also joined the demonstrations to collect anti-Morsi signatures from the protesters.

Hassan Shaheen, spokesman of the "Tamarrud" announced in a press conference Friday the campaign managed to collect three million signatures so far.

He added the ruling regime citing the campaign as criminal "the real crisis they face," asserting the legality of his movement based on the constitution said that the people are the only source for all authorities.

"I, the undersigned as a member of the National Assembly of the Egyptian people, hereby announce that I withdraw confidence from President Mohamed Morsi and I call for holding early presidential election," the campaign application form states.

In the underground Sadat station, Nourhan Ibrahim, Rebel's activist was trying to explain the objectives of the campaign, distributing copies of the campaign's statement on the passengers to sign, Xinhua reporter said.

Nourhan asked those who signed to write their national ID card number, to give the statement the legal frame.

Three universities students refused to sign, citing "we should give the president more time to run the country," while a lady in her forties signed the statement by saying that "we must at least say no for MB's bad performance, even if this paper is legally worthless."