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Morsi’s Friends and Foes Stage Mass Rallies Across Egypt Morsi’s Friends and Foes Stage Mass Rallies Across Egypt
(about 1 hour later)
CAIRO — As vast dueling demonstrations took place across Egypt on Friday, the state news media reported that former President Mohamed Morsi – who has been detained incommunicado for three weeks — was being investigated on accusations of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in a prison breakout in 2011. CAIRO — As vast dueling demonstrations took place across Egypt on Friday, the state news media reported that former President Mohamed Morsi – who has been detained incommunicado for three weeks — was being investigated on accusations of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in a prison break in 2011.
The accusations were widely seen as a shot across the bow by the interim government and the military authorities, which have pressed the Muslim Brotherhood to relinquish its demands for Mr. Morsi’s reinstatement. The accusations appeared to signal a shift away from any sort of accommodation with the Muslim Brotherhood, despite intense mediation efforts by Western and Arab diplomats in the three weeks since the military ousted Mr. Morsi and declared a new government.
But there was no sign that the Brotherhood was backing down on Friday, as Islamists marched defiantly on dozens of planned routes in Cairo and other cities. “Our blood and souls we will sacrifice for Islam,” some protesters chanted, while other chanted Mr. Morsi’s name. Instead, the military has moved toward formal criminal charges and a broader effort to crush the Brotherhood politically, analysts say, in moves that could portend further violence. Well over 100 people have been killed in street clashes over the past month. On July 8, police officers and soldiers opened fire on a group of Morsi supporters, killing 62.
At the same time in Tahrir Square in Cairo, a vast throng gathered under a baking sun and stayed into the night to cheer Egypt’s defense minister, Gen. Abdul Fattah el-Sisi, who ousted Mr. Morsi on July 3 and had called on Wednesday for demonstrations that he said would give him a “mandate” to fight terrorism. Early in the day, military helicopters hovered low over the crowd, earning delighted cheers. Protesters hugged the soldiers guarding entrances to the square and posed for pictures with them. Egypt’s defense minister, Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi, had called for mass demonstrations to take place Friday, saying that the public support would give him a “mandate” to fight terrorism – a phrase used here to refer to crackdowns on the Brotherhood.
There had been widespread fears that the two protesting groups would collide violently, but as of late evening, the only serious clashes appeared to be in the port city of Alexandria, where the Egyptian news media reported that one protester had been killed. The Brotherhood has remained defiant, demanding Mr. Morsi’s reinstatement as a precondition for any negotiations and mounting daily demonstrations. The group’s leaders quickly labeled General Sisi’s plea for street demonstrations as a call to “civil war.” Its leaders insist that they are not seeking confrontation or violence.
Well over 100 people have been killed in clashes over the last month between supporters and opponents of the Brotherhood. On July 8, soldiers fired on Brotherhood members and killed 62. “This is a preparation for eliminating the Brotherhood,” said Emad Shahin, a political science professor at American University in Cairo. “And of course it reduces the chance of Morsi coming back in any way.”
On Friday, tens of thousands of Islamists marched on dozens of planned routes in Cairo and other cities. “Our blood and souls we will sacrifice for Islam,” some protesters chanted, while other chanted Mr. Morsi’s name and held posters bearing his face.
At the same time in Tahrir Square in Cairo, a vast throng gathered under a baking sun and stayed into the night to cheer General Sisi. Early in the day, military helicopters hovered low over the crowd, earning delighted cheers. Protesters hugged the soldiers guarding entrances to the square, and posed for pictures with them. The authorities had delayed the broadcast of TV serials broadcast during day during the holy month of Ramadan to encourage people to join the anti-Brotherhood demonstrations.
There had been widespread fears that the two protesting groups would collide violently, but as of late evening, the only serious clashes appeared to be in the port city of Alexandria, where the Egyptian media reported that one protester had been killed.
Well over 100 people have been killed in clashes over the last month between supporters and opponents of the Brotherhood, including one case on July 8 in which soldiers and police officers fired on Morsi supporters and killed 62.
Mr. Morsi, whose face regularly appears on enormous banners in Islamist marches across the country, is being investigated on charges that appeared to relate to his 2011 escape from Wadi Natroun prison. He is accused of conspiring with Hamas in “hostile acts” including the kidnapping and killing of police officers and soldiers, according to a report on the Web site of Egypt’s flagship state newspaper, Al Ahram.Mr. Morsi, whose face regularly appears on enormous banners in Islamist marches across the country, is being investigated on charges that appeared to relate to his 2011 escape from Wadi Natroun prison. He is accused of conspiring with Hamas in “hostile acts” including the kidnapping and killing of police officers and soldiers, according to a report on the Web site of Egypt’s flagship state newspaper, Al Ahram.
The accusations – which have been played up by his political opponents for some time – gained little traction until after Mr. Morsi was deposed, and have been dismissed by human rights groups as political. Mr. Morsi was arrested in the final days of Hosni Mubarak’s rule, and after his release, he said in a television interview that he was among 30 members of his movement who were freed from prison by men they did not know. The accusations – which have been played up by his political opponents for some time – gained little traction until after Mr. Morsi was deposed, and have been dismissed by human rights groups as political. Mr. Morsi was arrested in the final days of Hosni Mubarak’s rule, and after his release, he said in a television interview that he was among 30 members of his movement who were broken out of prison by men they did not know.
The announcement of the investigation may also be aimed at relieving international pressure on the Egyptian authorities to release Mr. Morsi. On Wednesday, the United Nations general secretary, Ban-Ki Moon, joined the United States, the European Union and other bodies in expressing concern about Mr. Morsi’s unexplained detention. The announcement of charges may also be aimed at relieving international pressure on the Egyptian authorities to release Mr. Morsi. On Wednesday, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, joined the United States, the European Union, and other bodies in expressing concern about Mr. Morsi’s unexplained detention.
“This helps to make the detention look more legal, and it is part of the military’s campaign of pressure against the Brotherhood,” said Emad Shahin, a professor of political science at American University in Cairo. In a statement, Salah al-Bardaweel, a spokesman for Hamas, denounced the charges and challenged Egyptian prosecutors to present evidence that the group had any involvement with the prison breaks.
In a statement, Salah al-Bardaweel, a spokesman for Hamas, denounced the accusations against Mr. Morsi and challenged Egyptian prosecutors to present evidence that the group had any involvement with the prison breaks. Gehad el-Haddad, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, said that the investigation amounted to a repudiation of the revolt that toppled Mr. Mubarak and “might increase the number of angry people on the ground.”
Gehad el-Haddad, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, said on Friday that the investigation of Mr. Morsi amounted to a repudiation of the revolt that toppled Mr. Mubarak and “might increase the number of angry people on the ground.”
“It will only help strengthen the realization that the Mubarak state is back,” he said.“It will only help strengthen the realization that the Mubarak state is back,” he said.
In Tahrir Square, a stronghold for Mr. Morsi’s opponents for weeks now, many in the crowd seemed heartened by news of the investigation. “Morsi is nothing but a criminal, and the Egyptian people will be victorious,” said Ibrahim Abdelrahman, a 60-year-old retiree, as he waved an Egyptian flag. “The people, the Army, the police – we are all one hand.” In Tahrir Square, a stronghold for Mr. Morsi’s opponents for weeks now, many in the crowd seemed heartened by news of the detention and legal accusations. “Morsi is nothing but a criminal, and the Egyptian people will be victorious,” said Ibrahim Abdelrahman, a 60-year-old retiree, as he waved an Egyptian flag. “The people, the Army, the police – we are all one hand.”

Mayy El Sheikh contributed reporting from Cairo, and Fares Akram from Gaza.

Mayy El Sheikh contributed reporting from Cairo, and Fares Akram from Gaza.

  
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: July 26, 2013Correction: July 26, 2013

Earlier versions of this article, as well as headlines and summaries, overstated Friday’s legal developments against Mohamed Morsi. He was ordered detained for an investigation into espionage charges; he was not in fact charged.

Earlier versions of this article, as well as headlines and summaries, overstated Friday’s legal developments against Mohamed Morsi. He was ordered detained for an investigation into espionage charges; he was not in fact charged.