An influential ultra-conservative Egyptian cleric on Thursday has warned that using violence to break up sit-in protests by supporters of the ousted president Mohamed Morsi will lead to more bloodshed. The emotional address by a tearful Mohamed Haasan comes hours after the Egyptian authorities offered thousands of pro-Morsi protesters “safe passage and protection” to end the demonstrations in Cairo’s Nasr City and in Giza, near the Cairo University. Haasan warned the military that a bloody confrontation would plunge it into conflict with the country’s Islamists. The military ousted the Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July after days of mass protests by millions of Egyptians demanding that he step down. Morsi’s supporters have been staging marathon sit-in protests at two locations in Cairo. Haasan’s 15 minutes appeal was aired Thursday by Al-Jazeera.
Aug22013