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| Egypt protesters defy cabinet threat to end sit-ins | Egypt protesters defy cabinet threat to end sit-ins |
| (25 days later) | |
| Thousands of supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi are defying a new warning from the military-backed cabinet by continuing their sit-ins in the capital, Cairo. | Thousands of supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi are defying a new warning from the military-backed cabinet by continuing their sit-ins in the capital, Cairo. |
| The country's interim leaders have ordered police to end ongoing protests at two sites in the city. | The country's interim leaders have ordered police to end ongoing protests at two sites in the city. |
| But Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and other loyalists say they have no option but to continue the month-long sit-ins. | But Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and other loyalists say they have no option but to continue the month-long sit-ins. |
| The United States has again urged Egypt to respect freedom of assembly. | The United States has again urged Egypt to respect freedom of assembly. |
| Pro-Morsi demonstrators want to see the Islamist leader reinstated. He was removed by the army on 3 July, after just one year in office. | Pro-Morsi demonstrators want to see the Islamist leader reinstated. He was removed by the army on 3 July, after just one year in office. |
| They have ignored previous threats of removal despite clashes with security forces that have left dozens dead. | They have ignored previous threats of removal despite clashes with security forces that have left dozens dead. |
| The Egyptian interior ministry says gradual steps will be taken to disperse the crowds. | The Egyptian interior ministry says gradual steps will be taken to disperse the crowds. |
| "The continuation of the dangerous situation in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares, and consequent terrorism and road blockages, are no longer acceptable given the threat to national security," it said in a statement on Wednesday. | "The continuation of the dangerous situation in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares, and consequent terrorism and road blockages, are no longer acceptable given the threat to national security," it said in a statement on Wednesday. |
| Police had been tasked to end the demonstrations "within the law and the constitution", it added. | Police had been tasked to end the demonstrations "within the law and the constitution", it added. |
| On Thursday, the ministry urged the protesters to "let reason and the national interest prevail, and to quickly leave". | On Thursday, the ministry urged the protesters to "let reason and the national interest prevail, and to quickly leave". |
| It said it would guarantee the safety of departing protesters and they would not be pursued by security forces. | It said it would guarantee the safety of departing protesters and they would not be pursued by security forces. |
| 'Massacre expectations' | 'Massacre expectations' |
| But Mr Morsi's loyalists immediately rejected the call. | But Mr Morsi's loyalists immediately rejected the call. |
| "We are going to continue our peaceful sit-ins and our peaceful protests," Alaa Mostafa, a spokeswoman for the Anti Coup Alliance, told the AFP news agency. | "We are going to continue our peaceful sit-ins and our peaceful protests," Alaa Mostafa, a spokeswoman for the Anti Coup Alliance, told the AFP news agency. |
| Earlier Essam el-Erian, vice-president of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood's political wing, said the protesters would not be deterred. | Earlier Essam el-Erian, vice-president of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood's political wing, said the protesters would not be deterred. |
| "There are expectations of a massacre taking place in front of the eyes of the whole world," he said. | "There are expectations of a massacre taking place in front of the eyes of the whole world," he said. |
| "The free people in Egypt and the world must stand against this stupid cabinet mandate for the police to end the sit-in protests." | "The free people in Egypt and the world must stand against this stupid cabinet mandate for the police to end the sit-in protests." |
| The main sit-in is at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital's north-east, where clashes left some 70 people dead last Saturday, and in Nahda Square near the main campus of Cairo University. | The main sit-in is at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital's north-east, where clashes left some 70 people dead last Saturday, and in Nahda Square near the main campus of Cairo University. |
| Earlier, Brotherhood spokesman Gehad el-Haddad said the decision to clear the camps had been taken by a "gang" that had no respect for the law. | Earlier, Brotherhood spokesman Gehad el-Haddad said the decision to clear the camps had been taken by a "gang" that had no respect for the law. |
| The government has not given details of when the clearance could happen. | The government has not given details of when the clearance could happen. |
| On Wednesday US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf appealed for violence to be avoided. | On Wednesday US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf appealed for violence to be avoided. |
| "We have continued to urge the interim government officials and security forces to respect the right of peaceful assembly," she said. | "We have continued to urge the interim government officials and security forces to respect the right of peaceful assembly," she said. |
| "That obviously includes sit-ins. So we've made that point publicly and privately, and we'll continue to do so." | "That obviously includes sit-ins. So we've made that point publicly and privately, and we'll continue to do so." |
| German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, urged "all political parties to engage in dialogue", as he is continuing to meet senior government and Brotherhood officials. | German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, urged "all political parties to engage in dialogue", as he is continuing to meet senior government and Brotherhood officials. |
| Morsi is 'well' | Morsi is 'well' |
| In a separate development, three top Muslim Brotherhood figures have been referred to court on charges of inciting violence. | In a separate development, three top Muslim Brotherhood figures have been referred to court on charges of inciting violence. |
| Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie, his deputy Khairat al-Shater and senior leader Rashad Bayoum face trial over allegations of inciting the killing of protesters outside of their headquarters last month. | Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie, his deputy Khairat al-Shater and senior leader Rashad Bayoum face trial over allegations of inciting the killing of protesters outside of their headquarters last month. |
| An African Union delegation confirmed on Wednesday that it had met Mr Morsi, who has not been seen in public since being ousted. | An African Union delegation confirmed on Wednesday that it had met Mr Morsi, who has not been seen in public since being ousted. |
| He had received no official visitors until Tuesday, when he met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who said he was "well". | He had received no official visitors until Tuesday, when he met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who said he was "well". |
| The ousted leader has been formally remanded in custody at an undisclosed location, according to a judicial order. | The ousted leader has been formally remanded in custody at an undisclosed location, according to a judicial order. |
| He has been accused of the "premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" when he and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were freed during a breakout at a Cairo prison in January 2011. | He has been accused of the "premeditated murder of some prisoners, officers and soldiers" when he and several Muslim Brotherhood leaders were freed during a breakout at a Cairo prison in January 2011. |
| He is alleged to have plotted attacks on jails in the uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak. | He is alleged to have plotted attacks on jails in the uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak. |
| Mr Morsi is also accused of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip and has strong links with the Muslim Brotherhood. | Mr Morsi is also accused of conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip and has strong links with the Muslim Brotherhood. |
| He was overthrown by the military after mass rallies in which millions of Egyptians calling for his removal took to the streets. | He was overthrown by the military after mass rallies in which millions of Egyptians calling for his removal took to the streets. |