EGYPT: Thousands of Islamists gather in Cairo to show support for President Mursi before he marks one year in office as his opponents hope millions will protest to demand new elections

Record ID: 213991

  • Title: EGYPT: Thousands of Islamists gather in Cairo to show support for President Mursi before he marks one year in office as his opponents hope millions will protest to demand new elections
  • Date: 28th June 2013
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JUNE 28, 2013) (REUTERS) THOUSANDS GATHERED IN SUPPORT OF EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMED MURSI STAGE SET UP WITH SUPPORTERS STANDING FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM SUPPORTER ON STAGE WAVING FLAG VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAGS AND CHANTING SUPPORTER WITH MEGAPHONE CHANTING IN ARABIC: 'Legislation is the way of life' VARIOUS OF RALLY WOMAN HOLDING BANNER READING IN ARABIC: 'Those who wish for Mursi's departure are like the devil wishing he can go to heaven' (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SUPPORTER, AMANI ABDEL AZIZ, SAYING: "The majority of the Egyptian people support President Mursi and when they voted for him, they voted for a four-year programme. So today if they're talking about ousting President Mursi, this means they're ousting the democratic process as a whole. In six months time, maybe another president will be elected and they won't approve of him either, we'll oust him, elect a third, and thus we'll go in circles. The issue now isn't just about President Mursi, it's about the democratic foundation which Mursi is trying to cement and we are here to say that we support you, Mr. President." SUPPORTERS CHANTING IN ARABIC: 'Mursi is legitimate' SUPPORTER HOLDING QURAN QURAN HELD BY SUPPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SUPPORTER, SABER ATTA, SAYING: "Mohamed Mursi will not fall because he has a people who love him and a group who support him. It is impossible and they (the opposition) are wrong to think that one day Mursi will have the same fate as Hosni Mubarak." VARIOUS OF RALLY
  • Embargoed: 13th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA56WVFE4QGC519GHQQI312JLJ4
  • Story Text: Islamists gathered around a Cairo mosque after weekly prayers to show support for President Mohamed Mursi as his opponents hope millions will turn out on Sunday (June 30) to demand new elections, a year to the day since he was sworn in as Egypt's first freely elected leader.
    There was a mostly festive atmosphere in the hot sunshine, with vendors selling mango and cakes and banners flying.
    The United States, which funds Egypt's army as it did under Mubarak, has urged compromise and respect for election results. Egypt's 84 million people, control of the Suez Canal and treaty with Israel all contribute to its global strategic importance.
    Opposition leaders dismissed Mursi's proposal on Wednesday to include the fragmented opposition in panels to review the constitution and promote reconciliation, saying such offers led nowhere because the Brotherhood refuses to dilute its power.
    Amani Abdel Aziz said she supports the democratic process in which President Mursi was elected and believes the calls to remove him will ruin this democracy.
    "The majority of the Egyptian people support President Mursi and when they voted for him, they voted for a four-year programme. So today if they're talking about ousting President Mursi, this means they're ousting the democratic process as a whole. In six months time, maybe another president will be elected and they won't approve of him either, we'll oust him, elect a third, and thus we'll go in circles. The issue now isn't just about President Mursi, it's about the democratic foundation which Mursi is trying to cement, and we are here to say that we support you, Mr. President," she said.
    Mursi and the Brotherhood accuse loyalists of the old regime of being behind violence and of thwarting their efforts to reform an economy hobbled by corruption.
    One supporter, Saber Atta, said Mursi is not Hosni Mubarak.
    "Mohamed Mursi will not fall because he has a people who love him and a group who support him. It is impossible and they (the opposition) are wrong to think that one day Mursi will have the same fate as Hosni Mubarak."
    In his speech, Mursi denounced his critics but admitted some mistakes and offered talks to ease polarisation in politics that he said threatened Egypt's new democratic system. But opposition leaders said their protests on Sunday would go ahead.
    It is hard to gauge how many may turn out but much of the population, even those sympathetic to Islamic ideas, are deeply frustrated by economic slump and many blame the government.
    Previous protest movements since the fall of Mubarak have failed to gather momentum, however, among a population anxious for stability and fearful of further economic hardship.
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