Egyptian minister calls for nationwide rallies against terrorism

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, July 24 (UPI) -- The military commander behind Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's removal has called for nationwide rallies Friday to support military action against terrorism.

Defense Minister Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told a graduation ceremony in Alexandria Wednesday Egyptians should "take to the streets this coming Friday," the BBC reported.

"Give me, the army and police, a mandate to confront possible violence and terrorism so that in case there was a resort to violence and terrorism, the army would have a mandate to confront this," he said.

Since the ouster of Morsi earlier this month, clashes between his supporters and opponents have become an almost daily occurrence.

Six people were injured when supporters and opponents of the deposed president clashed in the Nile Delta governorate of Menoufiya, Ahram Online reported.

Stone-throwing and the use of birdshot and Molotov cocktails erupted following a verbal exchange between a pro-Morsi protester and anti-Morsi bystanders in Menoufiya's capital city of Shebin el-Koum.

Earlier Wednesday a policeman was killed and 19 were injured after an explosive device was thrown from a passing car at a police station in Mansoura north of Cairo.

A number of police vehicles were damaged and windows in the building shattered, Abram Online said.

In a separate incident, Muslim Brotherhood officials said two of its supporters were killed in an early morning protest march in Cairo.

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