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| Egypt braces for rival mass demonstrations | Egypt braces for rival mass demonstrations |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Egypt is bracing for rival mass demonstrations, amid tight security in the increasingly polarised nation. | Egypt is bracing for rival mass demonstrations, amid tight security in the increasingly polarised nation. |
| President Mohammed Morsi's supporters are to hold "open-ended' rallies - two days ahead of the opposition protests calling for the president to resign. | President Mohammed Morsi's supporters are to hold "open-ended' rallies - two days ahead of the opposition protests calling for the president to resign. |
| Meanwhile, one person died and a number of others were injured in clashes in northern Egypt late on Thursday. | Meanwhile, one person died and a number of others were injured in clashes in northern Egypt late on Thursday. |
| Mr Morsi in a speech marking his first year in office earlier said the unrest was "threatening to paralyse" Egypt. | Mr Morsi in a speech marking his first year in office earlier said the unrest was "threatening to paralyse" Egypt. |
| Troops have been deployed in the capital Cairo and other cities. | Troops have been deployed in the capital Cairo and other cities. |
| Mr Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, became Egypt's first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair. | Mr Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, became Egypt's first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair. |
| His first year in office has been marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy. | His first year in office has been marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy. |
| 'Back on track' | 'Back on track' |
| On Friday, thousands of Mr Morsi's supporters are expected to hold a rally in Cairo in support of his "legitimacy", rejecting the opposition's demand for him to resign. | |
| Some opposition groups are also due to stage demonstrations in the capital. | Some opposition groups are also due to stage demonstrations in the capital. |
| The main opposition coalition on Thursday rejected President Morsi's offer for dialogue. | The main opposition coalition on Thursday rejected President Morsi's offer for dialogue. |
| In a statement, the National Salvation Front said it "remained determined to call for an early presidential election". | In a statement, the National Salvation Front said it "remained determined to call for an early presidential election". |
| "We are confident the Egyptian people will come out in their millions to hold peaceful demonstrations on all of Egypt's squares and streets to realise their aspirations and to put the 25 January revolution back on track," it added. | "We are confident the Egyptian people will come out in their millions to hold peaceful demonstrations on all of Egypt's squares and streets to realise their aspirations and to put the 25 January revolution back on track," it added. |
| The opposition was referring to the popular uprising in January 2011 which ousted President Hosni Mubarak. | The opposition was referring to the popular uprising in January 2011 which ousted President Hosni Mubarak. |
| Just hours before the planned rallies on Friday, one person was killed in clashes at the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, in the Nile Delta province of Sharqiya, reports say. | Just hours before the planned rallies on Friday, one person was killed in clashes at the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, in the Nile Delta province of Sharqiya, reports say. |
| The Muslim Brotherhood blamed opposition activists for the violence. | The Muslim Brotherhood blamed opposition activists for the violence. |
| 'Enemies of Egypt' | 'Enemies of Egypt' |
| On Wednesday, President Morsi defended his performance, admitting errors and promising immediate and radical reforms to address them. | On Wednesday, President Morsi defended his performance, admitting errors and promising immediate and radical reforms to address them. |
| "I was right in some cases, and wrong in other cases," he said. "I have discovered after a year in charge that for the revolution to achieve its goals, it needs radical measures." | "I was right in some cases, and wrong in other cases," he said. "I have discovered after a year in charge that for the revolution to achieve its goals, it needs radical measures." |
| He apologised for the fuel shortages that have caused long lines at petrol stations and angered many Egyptians, and also for failing to involve the nation's youth enough. | He apologised for the fuel shortages that have caused long lines at petrol stations and angered many Egyptians, and also for failing to involve the nation's youth enough. |
| But despite Mr Morsi's initial conciliatory tone, the speech swiftly moved into a condemnation of those he blamed for Egypt's problems, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Cairo reports. | But despite Mr Morsi's initial conciliatory tone, the speech swiftly moved into a condemnation of those he blamed for Egypt's problems, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Cairo reports. |
| "I took responsibility for a country mired in corruption and was faced with a war to make me fail," he said, naming several officials he believed wanted to "turn the clock back" to the Mubarak era, including politicians, judges and journalists. | |
| "Political polarisation and conflict has reached a stage that threatens our nascent democratic experience and threatens to put the whole nation in a state of paralysis and chaos," he warned. | "Political polarisation and conflict has reached a stage that threatens our nascent democratic experience and threatens to put the whole nation in a state of paralysis and chaos," he warned. |
| "The enemies of Egypt have not spared effort in trying to sabotage the democratic experience." | "The enemies of Egypt have not spared effort in trying to sabotage the democratic experience." |
| Mr Morsi called on opposition figures to "enter elections if you want to change the government" and criticised them for refusing to take part in a national dialogue. | Mr Morsi called on opposition figures to "enter elections if you want to change the government" and criticised them for refusing to take part in a national dialogue. |
| The head of the army earlier warned it would not allow Egypt to slip into "uncontrollable conflict". | The head of the army earlier warned it would not allow Egypt to slip into "uncontrollable conflict". |