(AFP Photo)
As the military explains the meaning behind Defence Minister Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi’s call for protests, Tamarod shows support while the Muslim Brotherhood backed National Coalition to Support Legitimacy (NCSL) is apprehensive.
In a statement in the early hours of Friday the coalition said the “threats and intimidation” by those “leading the coup” will not intimidate the Egyptian people.
The coalition warned that those “leading the coup” are seeking to create massive chaos, “murders, bombings, sectarian strife and then accusing peaceful protesters…”
The NCSL asserted that it will remain on the streets until former president Mohamed Morsi’s ouster is overturned and called on Egyptians to gather on the streets especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the coup is defeated and constitutional legitimacy is restored.
Morsi’s supporters, who view his 3 July removal as a coup, began their marches after Friday prayers, demanding his release and reinstatement. The coalition said it welcomes any serious talks held to reverse his ouster.
The statement comes after Al-Sisi called on Egyptians to take to the streets to give him “a mandate and an order to confront potential violence and terrorism.”
The armed forces clarified in a statement made on Thursday that Al-Sisi’s call for protests was a continuation of the path of the 30 June Revolution “and did not carry any threats to certain political groups. It came as national initiative to face violence and terrorism…”
Tamarod, the campaign which led massive protests calling for withdrawing confidence from Morsi on 30 June, also released a statement in the early hours of Friday saying that mandating the armed forces comes as part of a framework of activating just and swift law, “without any exceptional procedures.”
Tamarod called on the Egyptian people to take part in protests and is organising marches across the nation Friday afternoon.
The armed forces vowed to coordinate with police to protect peaceful protesters and warned that any deviation from the peacefulness of protests or the use of violence or terrorism will be met with force, according to the law.
