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Egypt Morsi: Mass political protests grip cities | Egypt Morsi: Mass political protests grip cities |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Huge protests calling for the resignation of Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi and early presidential elections are taking place in the capital, Cairo, and other cities. | Huge protests calling for the resignation of Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi and early presidential elections are taking place in the capital, Cairo, and other cities. |
Tens of thousands of opponents have massed in Tahrir Square and outside Cairo's main presidential palace. | |
Two people died in separate violent incidents in other towns. | |
In Cairo, stones and petrol bombs were thrown at the headquarters of the ruling Muslim Brotherhood. | In Cairo, stones and petrol bombs were thrown at the headquarters of the ruling Muslim Brotherhood. |
Protest leaders have called on demonstrators to stay on the streets until Mr Morsi resigns. | Protest leaders have called on demonstrators to stay on the streets until Mr Morsi resigns. |
They accuse the country's first Islamist president of failing to tackle economic and security problems since taking power a year ago. | They accuse the country's first Islamist president of failing to tackle economic and security problems since taking power a year ago. |
A presidential spokesman urged the protesters to respect the democratic process while Morsi supporters massed in the Cairo suburb of Nasr City. | A presidential spokesman urged the protesters to respect the democratic process while Morsi supporters massed in the Cairo suburb of Nasr City. |
Demonstrations are being reported across the country: | Demonstrations are being reported across the country: |
Society split | Society split |
One man was killed and at least 24 injured in Beni Suef, 115km (71 miles) south of Cairo, security sources said. | One man was killed and at least 24 injured in Beni Suef, 115km (71 miles) south of Cairo, security sources said. |
According to a report on the Ahram news website, Morsi supporters attacked an opposition rally and unidentified gunmen opened fire. The report could not be confirmed independently. | According to a report on the Ahram news website, Morsi supporters attacked an opposition rally and unidentified gunmen opened fire. The report could not be confirmed independently. |
In the southern city of Assiut, one person died and seven were injured when shots were fired at protesters, reportedly by attackers on a motorcycle. | |
In Cairo, unidentified persons attacked the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters, which had been fortified with sandbags earlier. Staff inside said they had not broken in, Reuters news agency reports. | |
Presidential spokesman Ihab Fahmi called on all Egyptians to "unite and listen to the sound of wisdom". | Presidential spokesman Ihab Fahmi called on all Egyptians to "unite and listen to the sound of wisdom". |
"Political diversity necessitates on all parties to abide by the democratic process," he said. | "Political diversity necessitates on all parties to abide by the democratic process," he said. |
He told reporters that the presidency was open to a "real and serious national dialogue". | He told reporters that the presidency was open to a "real and serious national dialogue". |
As darkness fell, the opposition National Salvation Front released what it called "Revolution Statement 1", calling on protesters across Egypt to "maintain their peaceful [rallies] in all the squares and streets and villages and hamlets of the country... until the last of this dictatorial regime falls". | As darkness fell, the opposition National Salvation Front released what it called "Revolution Statement 1", calling on protesters across Egypt to "maintain their peaceful [rallies] in all the squares and streets and villages and hamlets of the country... until the last of this dictatorial regime falls". |
The National Salvation Front is among liberal and secular opposition groups which have endorsed a petition organised by the grassroots movement Tamarod (Rebellion), which calls for a snap election. Opposition activists say more than 22 million people have signed it. | |
There was also some evidence of anti-American and anti-Israeli feeling among the protesters, with one flag portraying President Morsi inside a Star of David. | |
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Cairo says many ordinary Egyptians - angered by Mr Morsi's political and economic policies - are taking part in the rally in Tahrir Square. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Cairo says many ordinary Egyptians - angered by Mr Morsi's political and economic policies - are taking part in the rally in Tahrir Square. |
At one point, army helicopters flew over Tahrir Square and dropped Egyptian flags, to cheers from the anti-Morsi crowd, he says. | |
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 as president has been marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy. | His first year as president has been marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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