EGYPT: In the face of widespread anti-government demonstrations thousands of pro-government supporters mount a counter-protest at Cairo University

Record ID: 213998

  • Title: EGYPT: In the face of widespread anti-government demonstrations thousands of pro-government supporters mount a counter-protest at Cairo University
  • Date: 2nd July 2013
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JULY 1, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PRO-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS GATHERING IN FRONT OF CAIRO UNIVERSITY VARIOUS OF GROUP OF FEMALE DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING AND WAVING NATIONAL FLAGS VARIOUS OF MALE DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING AND HOLDING PLACARDS SUPPORTING PRESIDENT MOHAMED MURSI DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING MURSI PLACARD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRO-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATOR, EHAB MUSHRIKI, SAYING: "We have to support legitimacy, whether it's Mursi or someone else, he has to complete these four years. If he doesn't complete these four years Egypt will enter a never-ending cycle." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRO-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATOR, NABIL RIDHA, SAYING: "The statement is confusing in all honesty, 90 percent of the people who are here are here because of the statement. The statement was not clear, '48 hours to meet the people's demands', what does he have, a magic lamp? 48 hours!" DEMONSTRATES CHANTING VARIOUS OF PRO-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING AND WAVING FLAGS IN FRONT OF CAIRO UNIVERSITY
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACUD2R5JMY4WP5KHHZ985FULFG
  • Story Text: Supporters of Egypt's embattled president Mohamed Mursi put on a show of force on Monday (July 1) in the grounds of Cairo University.
    A day after millions of Egyptians took to the streets of cities around the country calling for Mursi to step down pro-government groups staged counter-demonstrations defending the president's legitimacy as an elected leader.
    Cairo University is home ground for Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood supporters and the group chanted and waved flags and placards.

    "We have to support legitimacy, whether it's Mursi or someone else, he has to complete these four years. If he doesn't complete these four years Egypt will enter a never-ending cycle," said Ehab Mushriki, a pro-government demonstrator.

    "The statement is confusing in all honesty, 90 percent of the people who are here are here because of the statement. The statement was not clear, '48 hours to meet the people's demands', what does he have, a magic lamp? 48 hours!" said another protesters, Nabil Ridha.
    Earlier on Monday the army chief-of-staff General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made a statement broadcast on state television giving Mursi a virtual ultimatum to share power.
    Should feuding politicians fail to find compromise within 48 hours the army would impose its own road map for the country, he said.
    Mursi's backers were furious at the military's statement.
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