EGYPT: Tens of thousand of pro-Mursi protesters rally in support of the ousted President and condemning the 'military coup'

Record ID: 214003

  • Title: EGYPT: Tens of thousand of pro-Mursi protesters rally in support of the ousted President and condemning the 'military coup'
  • Date: 5th July 2013
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (JULY 5, 2013) (REUTERS) SECURITY CHECKPOINT AT ENTRANCE TO PRO-MURSI RALLY PRO-MURSI SUPPORTERS, ONE WEARING MASK WITH MURSI'S FACE PEOPLE BEING CHECKED ON WAY INSIDE PRO-MURSI SIT-IN WIDE OF STAGE WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PRO-MURSI SUPPORTERS VARIOUS WIDE OF PRO-MURSI SUPPORTERS MILITARY HELICOPTER CIRCLING OVERHEAD VARIOUS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PRO-MURSI SUPPORTERS IN RALLY MILITARY HELICOPTER CIRCLING OVERHEAD / FLYING OVER MOSQUE MINARET VARIOUS OF MURSI SUPPORTERS RELIGIOUS PREACHER ADDRESSING MURSI SUPPORTERS FROM STAGE MAN CRYING DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS VARIOUS OF PRO-MURSI SUPPORTERS DURING PRAYER MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LEADING FIGURE MOHAMED EL-BELTAGY ON STAGE / CROWDS CHEERING BANNER HANGING READING: "THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, RABA AL-ADAWEYAH SEGMENT" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LEADING FIGURE, MOHAMED EL-BELTAGY, SAYING: "These are the Egyptian people. Today they are out in the millions to recover their revolution. A civilian revolution, a democratic revolution, a constitutional revolution, a peaceful revolution. We will not give up on peace. We have not carried a rock, we have not used inappropriate language, but we will not return to our homes until this military coup is over." WIDE OF PRO-MURSI RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SPOKESMAN, AHMED AREF, SAYING: "Which acts of violence? First of all, we want to verify if they are fake acts in order to give a green light for Egyptian bloodshed and more oppression and taking away freedoms. But if it is for real, then we condemn all sorts of violence, there is no doubt about this, but the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces must understand that through their coup they have completely veered off the path of democracy." WIDE OF PRO-MURSI RALLY
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA614SC5M3ONCBEQ3YG3FO5NCLT
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands of Mursi supporters demonstrated in cities across the country in what the Muslim Brotherhood have called a "Friday of rage" against what they describe as a military coup that toppled Egypt's first elected leader a year after he took office.
    Thousands of Islamists also took to the streets of Alexandria and Assiut to protest against the army's ouster of Mursi and reject a planned interim government backed by their liberal opponents.
    Mohamed El-Betagy, a leading figure from the Muslim Brotherhood said that they were on the streets in an attempt to recover the revolution. "These are the Egyptian people. Today they are out in the millions to recover their revolution. A civilian revolution, a democratic revolution, a constitutional revolution, a peaceful revolution. We will not give up on peace. We have not carried a rock, we have not used inappropriate language, but we will not return to our homes until this military coup is over." said El-Betagy.
    In the Suez city of Ismailia, soldiers fired into the air as Mursi supporters tried to break into the governor's office. The Islamists retreated and there were no casualties, security sources said.
    Security forces shot dead at least three supporters of Mursi on Friday (July 5) as hundreds of them attempted to march towards the military barracks in Cairo where he is being held by the military that overthrew him.
    Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, Ahmed Aref said that the 'military coup' was a fake act that gave way to Egyptian bloodshed and oppression. "First of all, we want to verify if they are fake acts in order to give a green light for Egyptian bloodshed and more oppression and taking away freedoms. But if it is for real, then we condemn all sorts of violence, there is no doubt about this, but the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces must understand that through their coup they have completely veered off the path of democracy." Said Aref.
    Egypt's liberal coalition issued an "urgent call" for its supporters to take to the streets in response to Islamist protests, raising the risk of clashes between the rival groups.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register