Protests are already underway in cities and towns across Egypt Friday as opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi gear up for mass demonstrations Sunday in what many hope will be a ‘second revolution’ of millions.
Yet, Morsi’s supporters, many of them members of the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as Egypt’s powerful army and security forces, are also taking to the streets in what some fear will be a violent attempt to stem the uprising.
The grassroots Tamarod, or “rebel,” movement has breathed new life into Egypt’s ongoing protests against Morsi by collecting over 15 million signatures on a petition demanding a vote of no confidence in Morsi’s rule, and by mobilizing for what are expected to be massive protests Sunday marking the one year anniversary of the ruler’s inauguration
In a march winding through Cairo, demonstrators could be seen distributing “Egyptian flags and red cards to drivers and chanting against the Muslim Brotherhood,” reports Al Ahram.
“We’ve had enough of Morsi,” activist Ghada Naguib told the Global Post. “We don’t need him to do anything anymore. We just need him to leave.”
Protesters are erecting more tents in Tahrir Square, the icononic heart of the revolution that swept Mubarak from power in 2011.
In response to the loud call for Morsi to step down, Muslim Brotherhood supporters are holding counter-rallies, with thousands gathered Friday in the Nasser District of Cairo.
Since Thursday, fighting between Morsi supporters and opponents has led to several deaths, the BBC reports.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian army is being rapidly deployed throughout Egypt, including positions at the Suez canal and in front of government ministries.
After Morsi’s Wednesday speech snubbing anti-regime protesters, and the Sunday threat by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Armed Forces that it would step in to quell unrest, many fear a harsh repression of the mass mobilizations. Amnesty International released a statement Friday urging Egyptian security forces to ‘show restraint.’
Morsi is already moving quickly to consolidate power, purging dissenters from state agencies and court positions.
Yet, Morsi’s powerful U.S. allies appeared to be weighing against the protests. U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson declared last Friday, “Some say that street action will produce better results than elections. To be honest, my government and I are deeply skeptical. Egypt needs stability to get its economic house in order, and more violence on the streets will do little more than add new names to the lists of martyrs.”
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