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Egypt orders police to blockade pro-Morsi protest camps Egypt 'orders police to blockade pro-Morsi sit-ins'
(about 3 hours later)
Egypt's government has ordered police to block access to protest camps set up by supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, state TV reports.Egypt's government has ordered police to block access to protest camps set up by supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, state TV reports.
Thousands have been defying warnings from the authorities to abandon the sit-ins in Cairo outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque and at Nahda Square.Thousands have been defying warnings from the authorities to abandon the sit-ins in Cairo outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque and at Nahda Square.
Human Rights Watch earlier called on the state to "avoid another bloodbath". On Friday evening they expanded their protest to a third sit-in site.
Hundreds of Mr Morsi's supporters have been killed in clashes since he was overthrown by the military on 3 July. More than 100 Morsi supporters have been killed in clashes since he was overthrown by the military on 3 July.
More than 80 were shot dead in a single incident near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque last week. The demonstrations are taking place a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry said the generals were in effect restoring democracy when they removed the president.
'National security threat''National security threat'
On Wednesday, the government raised fears of further violence when it warned protesters to abandon their sit-ins or face dispersal by force. It said the camps represented a "threat to the Egyptian national security and an unacceptable terrorising of citizens". On Friday, activists said more than 30 protest marches left mosques in Cairo after Friday prayers and made their way to swell the numbers at the sit-in near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, in the east of the capital.
An interior ministry spokesman called on Mr Morsi's supporters to "give priority to the interest of the homeland, to comply with the public interest and to quickly leave and evacuate". He promised "safe exit and complete protection" to those who complied, without giving a deadline, AFP news agency reports. Thousands of Morsi supporters and their families have been camping there for weeks, demanding his reinstatement.
However, thousands of people continued to gather at the two squares on Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday the military-backed government authorised the police to disperse the sit-ins.
The Anti-Coup Pro-Democracy Alliance, a grouping of Morsi supporters led by the Muslim Brotherhood, vowed that the protests would continue.The Anti-Coup Pro-Democracy Alliance, a grouping of Morsi supporters led by the Muslim Brotherhood, vowed that the protests would continue.
"All revolutionary groups, including the alliance, also announce that they do not recognise the coup government or its decisions or negotiations," a statement said. "All revolutionary groups, including the alliance, also announce that they do not recognise the coup government or its decisions or negotiations," a statement said, adding that it placed "full responsibility on the coup leaders for any acts of violence or killings".
The alliance added that it placed "full responsibility on the coup leaders for any acts of violence or killings". Human Rights Watch also warned the authorities not to clear the sit-ins.
On Friday afternoon, as crowds grew steadily, state TV reported that the interior ministry had ordered security forces to impose a "blockade" on the Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda Square sit-ins within 48 hours, after which people would only be allowed to leave.
"The idea of storming the camp by force is one rejected by the interior ministry," state TV's security affairs correspondent said, according to the Reuters news agency.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood's Ahrar 25 TV said two new sit-ins had begun - one outside the Mustafa Mahmoud mosque in the Mohandessin district, and another in Alf Maskan.
Earlier, Human Rights Watch urged it not to clear the sit-ins.
"To avoid another bloodbath, Egypt's civilian rulers need to ensure the ongoing right of protesters to assemble peacefully, and seek alternatives to a forcible dispersal of the crowds," it said."To avoid another bloodbath, Egypt's civilian rulers need to ensure the ongoing right of protesters to assemble peacefully, and seek alternatives to a forcible dispersal of the crowds," it said.
'Disappointed' On Friday afternoon, state TV reported that within the next 48 hours security forces would impose a blockade on the two protest camps, allowing people to leave but not to go in.
The US government has also expressed concern at the threat to disperse the sit-ins by force. The Muslim Brotherhood's Ahrar 25 TV meanwhile said two new sit-ins had begun - one outside the Mustafa Mahmoud mosque in the southern Mohandessin district, and another in Alf Maskan in the east, near the capital's international airport.
But on Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry unexpectedly endorsed the overthrow of Egypt's first freely elected president, saying the military had been "restoring democracy". Security forces also fired tear gas at Morsi supporters who had gathered outside Media City, a complex housing most of Egypt's private television channels. The interior ministry said the protesters had blocked traffic, though one report said they had tried to storm the complex.
"The military was asked to intervene by millions and millions of people," he told Geo TV during a visit to Pakistan. "The military did not take over, to the best of our judgement - so far." 'Political solution'
The US government has been outspoken in its insistence that the right to peaceful assembly and to stage sit-ins must be respected, reports the BBC's Jim Muir in Cairo.
They have balanced that with comments from the secretary of state, who said Egypt's military had been "restoring democracy" when they overthrow the country's first freely elected president.
"The military was asked to intervene by millions and millions of people," Mr Kerry told Geo TV during a visit to Pakistan. "The military did not take over, to the best of our judgement - so far."
Mr Kerry said the US was discussing the crisis with officials from the EU and other countries "to try to see if we can resolve this peacefully".Mr Kerry said the US was discussing the crisis with officials from the EU and other countries "to try to see if we can resolve this peacefully".
The Obama administration has so far refused to call the ousting of Mr Morsi a coup, which would require it to suspend its annual $1.5bn (£1bn) aid package.The Obama administration has so far refused to call the ousting of Mr Morsi a coup, which would require it to suspend its annual $1.5bn (£1bn) aid package.
Mr Kerry's comments were criticised by the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement to which Mr Morsi belongs. Mr Kerry's comments were criticised by a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement to which Mr Morsi belongs.
"We totally reject these statements and we are very disappointed in them," Mohamed Ali Bishr, a senior leader, told Reuters. "We totally reject these statements and we are very disappointed in them," Mohammed Ali Bishr told the Reuters news agency.
"The United States is a country that speaks of democracy and human rights and they say something like that. I hope that they rethink their position and correct it.""The United States is a country that speaks of democracy and human rights and they say something like that. I hope that they rethink their position and correct it."
Mr Kerry's deputy, William Burns, is set to arrive in Cairo on Friday. Mr Kerry's deputy, William Burns, arrived in Cairo on Friday night - his second visit to the Egyptian capital since the military took control.
Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abelatty said Mr Burns would meet Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on Saturday. It is not known whether he will also hold talks with the head of the armed forces, Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, or Mr Morsi, who is being detained by the military.Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abelatty said Mr Burns would meet Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on Saturday. It is not known whether he will also hold talks with the head of the armed forces, Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, or Mr Morsi, who is being detained by the military.
Vice-President Mohammed ElBaradei told the Washington Post that Gen Sisi "understands that there has to be a political solution", adding: "But of course he has a responsibility to protect the country in terms of security. And the army is on the edge."
Our correspondent says it will be interesting to see how much traction Mr Burns can muster in his efforts to calm this bitterly polarised situation.