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               Clashes in Cairo Between Troops, Morsi Supporters

   by VOA News

   Gunfire has been reported in Cairo in a clash between supporters of
   deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and government troops, and
   other clashes have been reported around the country. Unconfirmed
   reports say the bloodshed has been deadly.
   Witnesses say soldiers opened fire on pro-Morsi protesters Friday who
   were trying to march on the defense ministry headquarters. They say
   they saw bloodied bodies on the ground.
   '''Thousands of Morsi supporters gathered at the Rabea Al-Adaweya
   mosque in Cairo's Nasr City, banging on drums, railing against the army
   and vowing to back Mr. Morsi to the death. The military deposed the
   president Wednesday, one year after his election, and suspended the
   constitution, saying the action was prompted by the risk of a popular
   uprising.
   A preacher from Mr. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood said many are ready to
   march against the military, but that their intentions are peaceful.
   The group has denounced the army's actions as an unjustified and
   illegal military coup.
   "There are a lot of escalating steps," Safwat Heagazy said. "One of
   those steps is to march towards the Defense Ministry and we will march
   peacefully."
   Egypt's military deployed troops to Zagazig, northeast of Cairo, where
   supporters and opponents of he deposed president have been fighting.
   Reports from the scene tell of gunfire and rock-throwing.
   ''The military and Egypt's former opposition groups have called for
   reconciliation as the military moves forward with its so-called road
   map to restore democratic, civilian rule in Egypt.
   Many leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have been detained under house
   arrest, and Mr. Morsi is said to be in military custody. Despite the
   angry outcry from the president's supporters, however, the atmosphere
   in most of Cairo and the rest of Egypt has been largely celebratory
   since Mr. Morsi was forced out of office.
   The military named a senior jurist, Adly Mansour, as interim president,
   and he was sworn into office Thursday.
   Islam Abdel-Rahman of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice
   Party tells VOA the Brotherhood still considers Mr. Morsi is Egypt's
   rightful president.
   "We believe in peaceful means of defying this military coup. We don't
   believe in taking up arms or something like this. We still believe this
   country can be managed by political means."
   He rejected comparisons that some have made to other countries that
   have experiences military takeovers and subsequent unrest.
   "Egypt is not like Pakistan. Egypt is not like Algeria. Egypt is Egypt
   and people are very confident and determined that we can give an
   example of a peaceful challenge to an armed coup."
   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 say they will open an investigation next week
   against Mr. Morsi and other Brotherhood members on charges of
   "insulting the judiciary."
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/clashes-in-cairo-between-troops-morsi-supporters/1695733.html