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     Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Plans Mass Protests Against Army Take-Over

   by VOA News

   Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood is calling for mass protests Friday against
   the military-backed ouster of President Mohamed Morsi.
   The Brotherhood is part of an alliance of Islamist parties calling for
   peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across the country.
   The atmosphere on the streets has been largely celebratory since Morsi
   was forced out by the military following days of large opposition
   protests.
   The Brotherhood has rejected the legitimacy of Adly Mansour, a top
   judge who was sworn in as interim president Thursday. It is also
   refusing to take part in a transition government.
   Friday's protests are seen as a test of whether the Islamist faction
   still has the popular support that brought it to power in a series of
   elections held since the ouster of authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak
   in 2011.
   The group has said it will not take up arms against the military, and
   there are no signs of mass violence. Still, there were fears of
   widespread retaliation against what the Brotherhood considers a
   military coup against their elected leader.
   Early Friday, security officials said "Islamist gunmen" attacked
   several military and police checkpoints in the lawless northern Sinai,
   killing an Egyptian soldier and wounding at least two others.
   Meanwhile, Egypt's military is calling for reconciliation and playing
   down concerns of a revenge campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood. A
   military spokesperson Thursday said no arbitrary measures will be taken
   against any political group.
   But as of early Friday, prosecutors had issued arrest warrants for 300
   of the group's members and detained some of its top leaders. Morsi has
   also been placed in military custody.
   The Brotherhood has also slammed the military for shutting down its
   official television channel and newspaper, as well as several other
   Islamist media outlets. In a statement, the group said the moves bring
   Egypt "back to the era of repressive practices, dictatorship, and
   corruption."
   Judicial officials also say they will open an investigation next week
   against Morsi and other Brotherhood members on charges of "insulting
   the judiciary."
   Some political groups that have chosen to take part in the transition
   government have criticized the moves, saying it is crucial that the
   Muslim Brotherhood not be driven away from the political process.
   The military has already suspended the country's controversial,
   Islamist-backed constitution and dissolved the Islamist-backed
   parliament. It plans to soon set up a panel to review the constitution
   and set a timetable for new elections.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/article/1695591.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/article/1695591.html