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Thousands Gather In Tahrir Square
And Other Cities Of Egypt, Chanting: Leave, Morsi

By Countercurrents.org

30 June 30, 2013
Countercurrents.org

A partial view of the Tahrir Square in the June 30-morning

Masses of people are assembling from the early hours of June 30, 2013 in the Tahrir Square in Cairo and in other cities and towns of the country to voice their rejection of the Muslim Brotherhood rule led by president Morsi that signify a deep crisis the country is facing. Protesting people started to assemble since June 29 in major squares in other cities including the country's second city Alexandria , Suez , Port Said , Mahalla, Sharqiya, Menoufia. The situation is tense.

The Rebel signature drive announced on June 29, 2013 that 22 million people – almost half of Egypt 's eligible voters and 9 million more than voted Morsi into office – have signed a petition calling for the president's removal. The 22 million signatures surpass Rebel's original goal of 15 million before 30 June. The aim of the campaign was to outnumber the amount of votes Morsi had garnered in the presidential elections.

Unrest over the past week left at least seven dead and hundreds others wounded in factional street fighting between both rival camps.

Media reports from Egypt said:

Thousands and thousands of anti-Islamist government protesters started flocking to the iconic Tahrir Square early morning – the first day of planned countrywide rallies and protest marches aimed at unseating Islamist Morsi, whose rule is marked with failures. The situation has given birth to a political uncertainty.

Carrying a 70 meter national flag, protesters roamed the square, the seat of the 2011 popular revolt that toppled strongman Mubarak, chanting anti-Muslim Brotherhood and anti-Morsi slogans.

The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party catapulted Morsi into the presidency last year and has since been seen as the ruling party.

Dozens of volunteers set up checkpoints on the side streets that open to Tahrir Square to search anyone wanting to enter so as to ensure security. Protesters vowed to camp out at Tahrir Square and major squares in governorates across Egypt until Morsi leaves.

Cairo streets, usually known for standstill jams, was virtually traffic-free on June 30, 2013 morning, since some people stayed home from work to avoid the expected turbulence, others took the day off to take part in the protests.

In Nasr City , a densely populated Cairo suburb, Morsi's Islamist backers are camping out for the third consecutive day to defend the "the president."

Also in Nasr City , tens of anti-government demonstrators settled outside the defense ministry chanting pro-army slogans urging the military to assume power from the beleaguered president.

Opposition is divided principally along this line; however, as revolutionaries condemn the army for the atrocities they committed during its year and half in power immediately following Mubarak's ouster.

The Brotherhood is on alert to protect their offices, some of which have been set on fire recently or have seen clashes. In fact, some have also been camping out for three days at the Ittihadiya palace, steeling themselves for the big protest day spearheaded by the anti-Morsi petition drive, Rebel Campaign.

Outside of Cairo

Protesters have been camping since yesterday in major squares in Suez , Port Said , Mahalla, Sharqiya, Menoufia and Egypt 's second city, Alexandria .

Protests have already started in governorates such as Suez , Sharqiya, Menoufia and Gharbiya.

Traffic in Egypt 's second-largest city, Alexandria almost came to a standstill in the late hours of Saturday after thousands of protesters held sit-ins in some vital districts.

In Suez , a city known for being somewhat volatile, the army distributed flyers among demonstrators urging them to stay away from state institutions and prisons.  

"We all feel we're walking on a dead-end road and that the country will collapse," said Mohamed ElBaradei, former IAEA director, Nobel laureate and liberal party leader in a video message supporting 30 June protests.

"All Egypt must go out tomorrow to say we want to return to the ballot box and build the foundations of the house we will all live in."

Defense Minister Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed the army will respect the "will of the people," and urged politicians to forge consensus.

The anti-Morsi protesters are demanding early presidential elections.

Expats' voices

The Egyptian embassy in Australia saw the first expat protests outside their doors, chanting for them to join the anti-Morsi protests. Likewise, France , Germany and the UK are expected to see expats protesting.

 


 

 




 

 


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