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| Egypt protest: Crowds gather for big anti-Morsi rally | Egypt protest: Crowds gather for big anti-Morsi rally |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Crowds have been gathering in Cairo's Tahrir Square ahead of a mass rally to demand the resignation of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. | Crowds have been gathering in Cairo's Tahrir Square ahead of a mass rally to demand the resignation of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. |
| Thousands spent the night the square, focus of the protests which brought down former leader Hosni Mubarak. | |
| Sunday is the first anniversary of Mr Morsi's inauguration as president. | Sunday is the first anniversary of Mr Morsi's inauguration as president. |
| His opponents accuse him of failing to tackle economic and security problems. Tension has been high ahead of the rally. | |
| Supporters of the president also plan to hold their own rallies. | |
| At least three people, including a US citizen, died in unrest on Friday. | |
| Washington has warned Americans not to travel to Egypt. | Washington has warned Americans not to travel to Egypt. |
| The UK urged its citizens to "avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings" while France said citizens should "limit movements to those strictly necessary". | The UK urged its citizens to "avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings" while France said citizens should "limit movements to those strictly necessary". |
| Protesters are unhappy with the policies of the Islamist president and his Muslim Brotherhood allies. | Protesters are unhappy with the policies of the Islamist president and his Muslim Brotherhood allies. |
| Opposition activists say more than 22 million people have signed a petition seeking a snap election. They have urged the signatories to come out on Tahrir Square. | Opposition activists say more than 22 million people have signed a petition seeking a snap election. They have urged the signatories to come out on Tahrir Square. |
| The grassroots movement Tamarod (Rebellion) is behind the petition, which has united liberal and secular opposition groups, including the National Salvation Front. | The grassroots movement Tamarod (Rebellion) is behind the petition, which has united liberal and secular opposition groups, including the National Salvation Front. |
| However, many ordinary Egyptians - angered by Mr Morsi's political and economic policies - are also taking part in the rally. | |
| Flags and tents form a base camp on the square from where protesters plan to march the presidential palace. | Flags and tents form a base camp on the square from where protesters plan to march the presidential palace. |
| Amr Riad, 26, told Reuters news agency: "We're peaceful but if those who come at us are violent we'll defend ourselves." | Amr Riad, 26, told Reuters news agency: "We're peaceful but if those who come at us are violent we'll defend ourselves." |
| Bloodshed | Bloodshed |
| Speaking in South Africa, US President Barack Obama urged "all parties to make sure they are not engaging in violence and that police and military are showing appropriate restraint". | Speaking in South Africa, US President Barack Obama urged "all parties to make sure they are not engaging in violence and that police and military are showing appropriate restraint". |
| "We would like to see the opposition and President Morsi engage in a more constructive conversation about [how] to move their country forward," he said. | "We would like to see the opposition and President Morsi engage in a more constructive conversation about [how] to move their country forward," he said. |
| On Friday, US national Andrew Pochter and another man were killed in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria as protesters stormed an office of the Muslim Brotherhood. | On Friday, US national Andrew Pochter and another man were killed in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria as protesters stormed an office of the Muslim Brotherhood. |
| Mr Pochter, who was in the country to teach English to children and improve his own Arabic, was killed apparently while using a mobile phone to take pictures. | Mr Pochter, who was in the country to teach English to children and improve his own Arabic, was killed apparently while using a mobile phone to take pictures. |
| His family said in a statement that he had been stabbed by a protester while observing demonstrations. | His family said in a statement that he had been stabbed by a protester while observing demonstrations. |
| The other fatality in Alexandria on Friday was an Egyptian man who was shot dead, according to medical sources. | The other fatality in Alexandria on Friday was an Egyptian man who was shot dead, according to medical sources. |
| Another man, said to be a journalist, was killed by an explosion in Port Said and five other people were injured. | Another man, said to be a journalist, was killed by an explosion in Port Said and five other people were injured. |
| President Morsi earlier this week offered a dialogue - a move rejected by his opponents. | President Morsi earlier this week offered a dialogue - a move rejected by his opponents. |
| 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. |