Thousands Begin Gathering In Tahrir As Political Tension Grips Egypt
By Countercurrents.org
29 June, 2013
Countercurrents.org
Anti-Morsi protesters in Tahrir Square on June 28, 2013. (Photo: Mai Shaheen)
Thousands of anti-Morsi protesters began gathering in Cairo 's Tahrir Square and other cities on June 29, 2013 as political tension grips Egypt . Fierce clashes between supporters and opponents of Egyptian president Morsi continue to rage into the night in coastal city of Alexandria following a day of rival protests nationwide that left one Egyptian and one US citizen dead. US embassy has begun reducing its non-essential staff in its embassy and has issued warning to its citizens on traveling to Egypt . Street battles between the rival camps have also erupted in a number of northern governorates.
Media reports from Egypt said:
An American photographer who had gone to the Alexandria protests to film the event was stabbed to death while an Egyptian man succumbed to injuries sustained from birdshot. The total number of injuries is estimated at 139.
Several Muslim Brotherhood offices were ransacked and torched by protesting people across the country including its offices in Alexandria , Beheira, Gharbiya, Daqahilyah and Kafr Al-Sheikh, Sidi Gaber, Al-Khanka and Morsi's hometown of Zagazig.
The Muslim Brotherhood accused members of the anti-Morsi Tamarod ('Rebel') campaign responsible for the violence, slamming them as "thugs."
As the fighting continued, the army has deployed troops countrywide.
In Cairo 's Nasr City , thousands of Morsi's Islamist supporters have settled in for the night after staging a rally in support of Morsi.
Leading Muslim Brotherhood member El-Beltagi has called on Morsi's opponents to "join us in the revolution."
The open-ended Islamists' demonstration, called for by Egypt 's Islamic Alliance – a pro-Morsi coalition spearheaded by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party – is being held with the motto: "Democratic legitimacy is a red line."
Senior FJP member Diaa Adha told that the Islamist protesters' chief aims were "to pre-empt planned opposition protests on June 30 and to support Morsi.
He slammed the 'Rebel' campaign as illegal.
However, the Morsi-supporters attacked an Egyptian television crew, accusing it of being from opposition media.
Meanwhile, only a few kilometers away in Tahrir Square , counter-protests began with thousands marching to the iconic rallying point to demand Morsi's ouster.
The sentiment was strong: President Morsi must step down.
The 'Rebel' signature drive, meanwhile, was out in full force at the square.
Amid accusations by the Brotherhood that the campaign was responsible for the day's violent clashes, the campaign released a statement via Twitter stressing that the shedding of any Egyptian blood was "wrong," regardless of religious or political affiliations.
Simultaneously, thousands of anti-Morsi protesters also gathered in Port Said , Damietta , Beheira and Daqahliyah governorates to demand snap presidential elections.
Friday's rival demonstrations highlighted Egypt 's deep divisions, as the country steels itself for further unrest on the first anniversary of Morsi's inauguration on Sunday.
Anti-Morsi protesters have put up 18 tents so far at the Ittihadeya presidential palace in Cairo 's Heliopolis district, in preparation for mass demonstrations planned for Sunday aimed at forcing president Mohamed Morsi to step down.
They also set up a stage near the main entrance to Heliopolis Sporting Club, opposite Gate 4 of the palace.
Meanwhile, the security presence in the area is increasing as five Central Security Forces (CSF) trucks and a fire-extinguishing vehicle stand at Ittihadeya.
Similarly, the number of tents in Cairo 's central Tahrir Square has increased to 150 after thousands staged an anti-Morsi demonstration Friday afternoon.
The call for protests was first made by the Rebel campaign aimed at collecting 15 million signatures withdrawing confidence from Morsi. The campaign is backed by major opposition groups, including the National Salvation Front (NSF).
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