Egypt Army Chief Urges Street Demos to Fight 'Terror', Islamists Call for Friday anti-Coup Rallies
Egypt's army chief called Wednesday for public rallies this week to give him a mandate to fight "terrorism and violence," as Mohammed Morsi's supporters continue to protest against his ouster.
"Next Friday, all honorable Egyptians must take to the street to give me a mandate and command to end terrorism and violence," General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a speech broadcast live on state television.
The army chief, who led a coup against Morsi on July 3 after mass demonstrations demanding his ouster, said he had warned the Islamist president that he must either resign or hold a referendum.
Presidential aides "told me if there is any problem, there will be lots of violence because of armed groups, to scare me," Sisi said.
His speech, at a graduation ceremony for cadets, came hours after a bomb at a police station killed a conscript, according to the interior ministry.
Meanwhile, Egypt's Islamist coalition branded the army chief's call "an announcement of civil war."
"Al-Sisi's threats are an announcement of civil war," said the Muslim Brotherhood-led coalition.
It also called mass anti-coup protests for Friday.
The marches will be held in all provinces under the slogan "the people want to bring down the coup," the Muslim Brotherhood-led coalition said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Islamists, who had said they intended to hold rallies on Friday, publicized the starting points for the marches hours.
Morsi loyalists have vowed to continue demonstrating until president Mohammed Morsi, overthrown in a coup on July 3, is reinstated.
The Brotherhood condemned Sissi's call for protests as a "threat" that would not prevent them from continuing their protests.
Almost 200 people have been killed in clashes since the days leading up to Morsi's overthrow, with militants in Sinai also carrying out daily attacks on security forces.
Source: Agence France Presse
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