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| President Sisi urges Egyptians to 'defend state' ahead of protests | President Sisi urges Egyptians to 'defend state' ahead of protests |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has urged citizens to defend the state and its institutions ahead of planned anti-government protests. | Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has urged citizens to defend the state and its institutions ahead of planned anti-government protests. |
| In a televised speech, Mr Sisi said attempts to destabilize Egypt would not succeed if the country stood united. | In a televised speech, Mr Sisi said attempts to destabilize Egypt would not succeed if the country stood united. |
| Security has been stepped up across the country, with officials warning they will deal firmly with protesters. | Security has been stepped up across the country, with officials warning they will deal firmly with protesters. |
| Discontent has worsened following a recent deal to cede control over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. | |
| Mr Sisi has defended his decision, saying the islands of Sanafir and Tiran always belonged to Saudi Arabia. | Mr Sisi has defended his decision, saying the islands of Sanafir and Tiran always belonged to Saudi Arabia. |
| Secular and leftist activists have called for demonstrations on Monday in defiance of an anti-protest law that bans unauthorised gatherings. | Secular and leftist activists have called for demonstrations on Monday in defiance of an anti-protest law that bans unauthorised gatherings. |
| The protests have been scheduled on a holiday that marks the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982. | The protests have been scheduled on a holiday that marks the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982. |
| "I see there are people calling once again for damage to (Egypt's) security and stability," Mr Sisi said, repeating that there were "evil" forces conspiring against his country. | "I see there are people calling once again for damage to (Egypt's) security and stability," Mr Sisi said, repeating that there were "evil" forces conspiring against his country. |
| "Our responsibility is to protect security and stability, and I promise Egyptians that no one will terrorise them again." | "Our responsibility is to protect security and stability, and I promise Egyptians that no one will terrorise them again." |
| Troops have been deployed to key areas of Egypt's main cities, and agents have rounded up dozens of activists, journalists and lawyers from their homes and cafes in Cairo. | Troops have been deployed to key areas of Egypt's main cities, and agents have rounded up dozens of activists, journalists and lawyers from their homes and cafes in Cairo. |
| In a statement, Egypt's Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar said "security forces... will confront with extreme rigour any attempt to disturb public order," the Agence France-Presse news agency reported. | In a statement, Egypt's Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar said "security forces... will confront with extreme rigour any attempt to disturb public order," the Agence France-Presse news agency reported. |
| Observers say public dissatisfaction with Mr Sisi has grown recently because of the poor state of the economy and recent alleged cases of abuse by security forces. | Observers say public dissatisfaction with Mr Sisi has grown recently because of the poor state of the economy and recent alleged cases of abuse by security forces. |
| As former armed forces chief, Mr Sisi led the army's overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi, an ex-Muslim Brotherhood official, in 2013 following mass protests. | As former armed forces chief, Mr Sisi led the army's overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi, an ex-Muslim Brotherhood official, in 2013 following mass protests. |
| Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed and 40,000 are believed to have been jailed in a sweeping crackdown on dissent, most of them from the outlawed Brotherhood. | Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed and 40,000 are believed to have been jailed in a sweeping crackdown on dissent, most of them from the outlawed Brotherhood. |
| Local and international human rights activists say the situation in the country has never been worse, with Amnesty International saying Egypt has reverted "back to a police state". | Local and international human rights activists say the situation in the country has never been worse, with Amnesty International saying Egypt has reverted "back to a police state". |