Advertisement

Egypt's interim government says pro-Morsi protests must end

CAIRO, July 31 (UPI) -- The interim Egyptian government says protesting supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi must be removed from the streets.

A government spokesman read a statement on national television in which the Cabinet said the sit-ins were a "threat to national security," the BBC reported Wednesday.

Advertisement

"The Cabinet has decided to take all measures necessary to confront these risks and put an end to them," the statement said.

While scores of pro-Morsi supporters were killed in clashes during the weekend, prosecutors ordered criminal charges against three Muslim Brotherhood leaders, Ahram Online reported. Supreme guide Mohamed Badie, his deputy, Khairat El-Shater, and deputy leader Rashad Bayoumi were referred to criminal court for instigating attacks on peaceful protesters.

Arrest orders were issued for two more Muslim Brotherhood leaders, Osama Yassin and Essam el-Erian, and Safwat Hegazy, a Salafist cleric.

On Tuesday, European Union foreign policy head Catherine Ashton said she had a meeting with Morsi and described him as doing well. She said Morsi sent best wishes to the world.

The Muslim Brotherhood Tuesday called on followers to participate in a million man march dubbed "Martyrs of the Coup" to protest the deadly violence plaguing the country since Morsi's ouster and to demand Morsi's reinstatement.

Advertisement

About 80 Brotherhood followers were killed and hundreds injured in the weekend violence.

Fifteen Egyptians were killed Monday in central Cairo, the Middle East News Agency reported.

Latest Headlines