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Egypt braces for new protests against President Morsi | Egypt braces for new protests against President Morsi |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi are expected to hold new protests, after the deadliest week of violence since he came to power. | Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi are expected to hold new protests, after the deadliest week of violence since he came to power. |
More than 60 people have been killed in the unrest. | More than 60 people have been killed in the unrest. |
On Thursday leaders of some of the main political factions signed an agreement condemning the violence. | On Thursday leaders of some of the main political factions signed an agreement condemning the violence. |
But youth groups later called for more rallies. They plan to gather in Tahrir Square in Cairo after Friday prayers and march on the presidential palace. | But youth groups later called for more rallies. They plan to gather in Tahrir Square in Cairo after Friday prayers and march on the presidential palace. |
The planned protests coincide with the first anniversary of football riots in Port Said, in which 74 people were killed. | |
Port Said has seen the worst of the violence over the past week, in clashes sparked by death sentences imposed on 21 local people in connection with the football riots. | |
Human rights officials, meanwhile, have expressed alarm over a rise in sexual violence against women in Cairo. | |
According to the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 25 women have been sexually assaulted, mainly in Tahrir Square, since the protests erupted. | |
Michelle Bachelet, of the UN's Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, said she was "deeply disturbed by the gravity of [the] recent attacks". | |
Sexual assaults against women around Tahrir Square was widely reported during the uprising there which eventually unseated Hosni Mubarak. | |
'Collapse of state' | |
The current unrest began on 24 January in Cairo on the eve of the second anniversary of the 2011 revolution and has spread to several cities. | |
Protesters accuse Mr Morsi of imposing a new form of authoritarianism and betraying the values of their uprising two years ago. | Protesters accuse Mr Morsi of imposing a new form of authoritarianism and betraying the values of their uprising two years ago. |
Supporters of Mr Morsi say the opposition is trying to use the power of the street to unseat Egypt's first democratically elected leader. | Supporters of Mr Morsi say the opposition is trying to use the power of the street to unseat Egypt's first democratically elected leader. |
On Tuesday, Egyptian army chief Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi warned that the political crisis could lead to the collapse of the state. | On Tuesday, Egyptian army chief Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi warned that the political crisis could lead to the collapse of the state. |
Thursday's meeting at the al-Azhar mosque was attended by President Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and by opposition figures. | Thursday's meeting at the al-Azhar mosque was attended by President Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and by opposition figures. |
The document signed by the leaders refers to the "sanctity of [citizens'] blood and of public and private property", according to a text published by the Egyptian al-Ahram newspaper. | The document signed by the leaders refers to the "sanctity of [citizens'] blood and of public and private property", according to a text published by the Egyptian al-Ahram newspaper. |
It says those signing "condemn the inciting of violence, its justification... and its exploitation in any form". | It says those signing "condemn the inciting of violence, its justification... and its exploitation in any form". |
Opposition politician Mohamed ElBaradei said he was optimistic after the meeting, saying differences should be solved peacefully. | Opposition politician Mohamed ElBaradei said he was optimistic after the meeting, saying differences should be solved peacefully. |
Earlier this week, the National Salvation Front, formed by Mr ElBaradei, leftist Hamdeen Sabahi and former Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, turned down an invitation to talks with Mr Morsi. | Earlier this week, the National Salvation Front, formed by Mr ElBaradei, leftist Hamdeen Sabahi and former Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, turned down an invitation to talks with Mr Morsi. |
They said they first wanted him to commit to the idea of a national unity government and a body to look at amendments to the new Egyptian constitution. | They said they first wanted him to commit to the idea of a national unity government and a body to look at amendments to the new Egyptian constitution. |