Supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist president marched toward a military facility in the early hours of Monday, as thousands of marchers were seen leaving the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in northern Cairo, where they have been staging a weeks-long vigil. The march came after a statement issued by the Muslim Brotherhood saying the destination of the march was the military intelligence headquarters, Reuters news agency reported. The march was in defiance of an army warning early Monday, and risked a new confrontation after dozens were shot dead in clashes with security forces at the weekend. According to Reuters, the marchers carried pictures of the deposed president Mohammad Mursi, demanding he be reinstated, and flashing victory signs. They then turned back, chanting, “Our blood and souls we sacrifice for Mursi.” The army, saying it was aware of the planned march, issued a statement urging protesters “not to come close to military facilities in general, and the headquarters of military intelligence specifically,” Reuters reported. The dawn killings on Saturday, which left at least 72 Mursi supporters dead following a day of rival mass rallies, deepened the turmoil plaguing the country since the army shunted Egypt’s first freely elected president from power on July 3. (With Reuters)
Jul292013