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THOUSANDS OF EGYPTIAN President Mohamed Morsi’s opponents protested today on the first anniversary of his inauguration, determined to oust him as his Islamist supporters vowed to defend his legitimacy to the end.
Cairo
Jubilant protesters gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square ahead of scheduled marches, waving red cards and Egyptian flags as patriotic songs boomed from large speakers.
Marchers were due to set off at 5 pm (3pm GMT) for the Ittihadiya presidential palace, close to a neighbourhood where thousands of Morsi supporters vowed to stage a counter-demonstration.
“The people want the ouster of the regime,” the opposition protesters chanted, the signature slogan of the 2011 revolt that ousted Hosni Mubarak and brought Morsi to power.
Anti-Morsi protests also began in the coastal city of Alexandria, the Nile Delta cities of Menuf, Mahalla and the canal cities of Suez and Port Said as well as in Morsi’s hometown of Zagazig.
Police and troops have deployed at key buildings nationwide, security officials said, and the health ministry said hospitals are on high alert in case of violence.
A senior security official said the Suez Canal, the vital waterway connecting the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, is under “maximum security”.
The grassroots movement Tamarod – Arabic for rebellion – claims to have collected millions of signatures to a petition demanding Morsi’s resignation and new elections.
The week ahead of the showdown has seen eight people including an American killed, and scores more injured as rival demonstrators took to the streets.
Morsi
Morsi, previously a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader, is Egypt’s first freely elected president, catapulted to power by the 2011 uprising that ended three decades of authoritarian Mubarak rule.
His opponents accuse him of betraying the revolution by concentrating power in Islamist hands and of sending the economy into free fall.
Morsi supporters say he inherited many problems from a corrupt regime, and that he should be allowed to complete his term which ends in 2016.
Any attempt to remove him from office, they argue, is a coup against democracy. Leading opposition figure, Nobel peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, urged Morsi “to listen to the people” and quit.
Fervent displays of emotion from both camps highlight the deep divisions in the Arab world’s most populous country. The army, which led a tumultuous transition after Mubarak’s ouster, has warned it will intervene if there is major unrest.
Since taking office, Morsi has battled with the judiciary, the media and the police. The economy has nosedived, investment dried up, inflation soared and the vital tourism sector battered.
Many Egyptians stocked up on food and withdrew cash ahead of the rallies, and long queues at petrol stations brought some parts of Cairo to a standstill.
On Saturday, at least eight deputies resigned from the Islamist-dominated Shura Council, in a boost for Tamarod which says it now has 22 million signatures to its petition.
The figure, which compares with the 13.2 million votes to 12.3 million by which Morsi won election last year, cannot be verified.
Morsi supporters are steadfast in defending his legitimacy. Morsi’s opponents deny that removing him would be a “coup”, saying calls for his resignation are aimed at restoring the revolution’s cornerstones of democracy, freedom and social justice.
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They want him to walk like an…….ah forget it.
Brilliant!
I don’t know the full facts to be honest, I’m only going by this story, but if he was properly democratically elected they should let him finish his term, that’s how democracy /elections work, the people vote and then take responsibility for their decision.
The whole purpose of the rising was to allow for democracy, well now they have it and it doesn’t seem gold enough.
Maybe someone else can clear this up for me a bit more though
Islam and democracy are uncomfortable bedfellows I fear.
As bizarre as it may seem in this instance Islam is defending democracy.
As bizarre as it may seem in this instance Islam is defending ITS VERSION of democracy. “His opponents accuse him of betraying the revolution by concentrating power in Islamist hands and of sending the economy into free fall.”
As Obama’Soetoro is a pal of the Muslim Brotherhood who helped him get elected he might be able to tell you how democracy works in their minds.
Re Adrian.
If you look into the election of Morsi you will see that he was in fact not democratically ejected with millions upon millions being denied to vote.
Morsi is a US puppet who has given himself more powers than the previous president ever dreamed of.
The Arab Spring has been shown to be nothing more than an organised effort by Western governments.
You need to get out more B Lowe. Backward Islamic societies are incompatible with democracy. There is NO ISLAMIC country where gay rights, women’s rights or any other form of human rights could be considered decent.The ones with the best records, like Turkey, are inexplicably islamifyig quickly. Stop blaming the west for their problems, which are mainly down to their medieval religion and their refusal to live side by side with any other religion. If they’re not fighting with Jews, Hindus or Christians then the Shia turn on the Sunni or Visa-versa.
Egypt’s democratic elections allowed for one person one vote. Morsi won it freely and fairly. Be he an atheist, Christian, Jew or Muslim it matters not a jot. He was elected freely and fairly.
Jews in Egypt? Don’t make me laugh, they were expunged many years ago. As for the Christians, maybe you should look what’s happened then in the last few decades. Forced conversions, terror attacks, they are second class citizens at best and there numbers are dwindling. There will be next to none left in 30 years. And now they have to put up with an Islamist running the country, which you then blame on Israel. Yourself and the other loonie lefties should cop on.
Ah the wonders of the Arab Spring
“Violence against Christians has become all too frequent in recent years, with attacks on them in a wide variety of countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Repression and intolerance have been displayed against the Christian community in Nigeria; against the Coptic Christians in Alexandria, Egypt ; by bombing in a chapel in Sulu, Philippines; by bomb arracks against Assyrian Christians in Iraq; by discrimination against them in the Islamic Republic of Iraq; by prosecution under the blasphemy laws in Pakistan and elsewhere.
AS for the mention of Turkey above “With the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the 200,000 Greek Christian Cypriots in the north escaped or were deported to the south. The village of Rizokarpaso, where the Christian Mass was prevented, once had a population of 3,000; now it has few Christians. The Turkish Republic has epitomized qualities of ethnic cleansing, disproportionate use of force, vandalism, religious intolerance, repression, and persecution. The Christian community in the north has dwindled to about 450.
Restrictions have been put on Christian practices, as has access to religious sites and places of worship.
AT
And you got eleven red thumbs for your trouble. Amazing!
Well said Dr. Serious and Uncle Mort!
Democracy is so new to the Egyptians they don’t really get it that the free and fair elections took place last year. Couple this with the USA/Israel fueling unrest as their man lost the election and you get deluded masses protesting on the streets for “democracy”. Pathetic stuff.
Unrest in Egypt? Israel’s fault!
Bombings in Syria? Must be America!
Civil war spilling into Lebanon? That’s down to the west! All Islamic countries ignoring human rights, executing gays, committing honour killings in their thousand? Em…. Who is there left to blame? The super tolerant PC Irish loonie Lefts love-in with the ultra conservative, mysoginistic, homophobic, sectarian, racist, hard line Islamists is one of life’s great mysteries to me.
Islam the new bogeyman. It used to be the commies are coming. The West has and is playing it’s role in destableizing these countries. Don’t believe me look to retired US General Wesley Clark who reveals the US plan to invade and take over 7 countries, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Lybia, Somalia, Sudan, And Iran, before we even invaded Afghanistan. The first part of the plan was revealed 10 days after 9/11 and was expanded to included the other nations. Clark is quoted as saying the invasion wasn’t based on links to Al-Queda or any other intelligence reports.
So you deny Islam is intolerant to Christianity? Judaism? Homosexuality? Women? Are you aware of honour killings? Stonings for adultery? Execution of gays? Wholesale religious persecutions?
There are only 50 muslim countries in the world. Name one with freedom please Kevin you deluded simpleton?
Turkey. Malaysia the Maldives. All religions are intolerant and I support none of them. GITMO proves “freedom” (whatever that means) does not exist the US. US led invasions have killed more people than Islam has or does. The US mass murdering machine seems to be ok with you. Imran Hosein predicted the “Arab Spring” back in 2003. He says not to be fooled by plans for a “Greater Israel”. An interesting insight rather than the simplistic view that this is all the fault of mad Islamics.
Turkey treat the Kurds and minorities in their country shockingly. Google Malaysia human rights violations good man and do your homework. Religions are intolerant but Islam is the most intolerant of all. There are many good Muslims but Islamic is a milestone around any country’s neck. I’m sure you have good intentions Kevin but you need to understand that the fact that EVERY Islamic country is radicalising is not the fault of Israel, America, Europe me or you. It’s the fault of repressive regimes and their apologists.
Kevin yourself and B.Lowe seem to be at odds on this one. He thinks Morsi is a western stooge and you think its the opposite and its the west that is behind these demonstrations. Could it be that the Egyptian population just don’t want to go down the extreme Islamic route.
Go back to the months before the election. The Muslim Brotherhood were spending money like water in rural Egypt buying votes. And that is where the majority of their electoral support came from. The poor uneducated peasants given a few quid and their local imams telling them who to vote for.
Google US human rights violations good man and do your homework. Start with GITMO and let us know how you get on. The fact that EVERY Islamic country is radicalising is the fault of Israel, America and Europe as they keep interfering in their internal affairs. Look to Noam Chomsky, an emeritus professor of linguistics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a well-known political activist critical of U.S. foreign policy, traces modern-day American imperialism to its earliest roots, 25 years before the American Revolution, and he explains how the United States has lived up to its reputation as “the most frightening and dangerous country in the world.”
@ Mick – Morsi is no western stooge. The West’s plans were upset by his election – hence the destablizing efforts by the West. I’m not a fan of his. Carefull for what you wish for and all that.
No western stooge? Why is he flying the FSA flag so highly then? He’s the same as Erdogan, Karzai and countless others Kevin
I agree he not. But neither is he a real democrat. And David is it Isreals fault that there is Islamic insurgancies in the Philippines, Thailand, India, Russia and Sub-Saharan Africa? Using Israel is just an excuse for their actions. If Israel didn’t exist do you honestly think there would be no extremist Islamic movement? Even to this day they believe that half of the Iberian peninsula belongs under Islamic rule as does a fair chunk of the Balkins.
If he was why in the US slamming him at every opportunity? Speak to Egyptian people living here in Ireland and get their perspective on the issues involved. They ALL tell me that Morsi has massive public support and they want him to be given the space to improve things. They say he is hated by the US and Israel hence the fuelling of protests which are destroying the economy which Morsi will be blamed for. The West only supports democracy when their man gets elected. Look to how different the US treats it’s bag man Karzai as to how it treats Morsi to see the truth of the matter.
The Maldives? Are you joking? Don’t read this link if you are sensitive.
http://www.vancouverdesi.com/news/rape-horror-in-paradise-teen-victim-ordered-to-be-whipped-in-maldives/524788/
US drone strikes kill the inhabitants of entire villages. Gitmo, Abu Grabh etc. The US still uses the stone age death penalty. Leader of the Free World? Maldives or the USA choices!
It suits the agenda for all these countries around the middle east that have been traditionally Israels enemies, Libya is a mess…Egypt in transition….Syria invaded…..Iraq torn apart and Lebanon now facing a secterian civil war, yes morsi is a puppet, I havent heard or read anything coming from Washington slamming him, and of course he was educated in the states which is were most of these puppets get theyre powerful contacts
@Golden Arms – You say “It suits the agenda for all these countries around the middle east that have been traditionally Israels enemies, Libya is a mess…Egypt in transition….Syria invaded…..Iraq torn apart and Lebanon now facing a secterian civil war”
Does it not seem strange to you that all of Israel’s enemies start to fall apart in and around the same time?
Does it not seem even stranger when you can look to Imran Hosein who predicted the “Arab Spring” back in 2003. He says not to be fooled by plans for a “Greater Israel”.
Add to the above when you can also look back to 2007 when US General Wesley Clark, former NATO Commander, who revealed the US plan to invade and take over 7 countries, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Lybia, Somalia, Sudan, And Iran, before they even invaded Afghanistan. The first part of the plan was revealed 10 days after 9/11 and was expanded to included the other nations.
Very little in this world happens by accident.
Oh Israel doesn’t like Morsi?? Is the same Morsi who said Jews are the descendants of pigs???!!
@ Kevin. N – Agreed yet some still claim he is a US stooge?
US slams Morsi for calling Jews ‘descendants of pigs’
http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/12923/us_slams_morsi_for_calling_jews_descendants_of_pigs_
No it doesn’t Kevin, that’s the very agenda in talking about
Thought that was what they wanted,this reminds me not to fix something that is not broken
The danger of Islam is the intention to try to restore the Caliphate which is the goal of far too many of the fundamentalists. They still refer to Spain as Granada and they were at the Gates of Vienna
“Out of consideration for immigrants of Turkish background teachers in a Vienna elementary school have been advised to no longer cover the topic in their teaching. Whoever does not comply is threatened with being transferred, reports the newspaper Krone. After all the Turks could feel insulted when they are reminded of their defeats. The Turkish wars are of major significance for Austrian history, however. Vienna alone twice faced major Turkish sieges – and beat back the attackers both times. Parents are angry about the initiative of the Vienna headmasters; even the Krone speaks of a “falsification of history”.
@ Uncle Mort – remove the word Islam from your post and replace it with Communist. It makes very little difference. Reds under the bed during the McCarthy era has just been replaced with Islamic fundamentalists in this era. The script barely changes. The USA needs an enemy to justify its never ending war.
@Kevin C
I was not aware that the Caliphate was communist, tell me more.
Hope this is soon sorted out, we r heading to Egypt in September for 2weeks holiday!!
Not a hope Margaret sorry, Morsi is a goon and it wont be
that’s what really matters here Margaret
have your say