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| Egyptian general calls for millions to protest against 'terrorism' | Egyptian general calls for millions to protest against 'terrorism' |
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| Egypt's army chief has called for mass protests against "terrorism" after an explosion outside a police building in northern Egypt killed one police conscript and injured 19 officers and civilians – bringing the deathtoll from fighting since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi to at least 190, according to one estimate. | Egypt's army chief has called for mass protests against "terrorism" after an explosion outside a police building in northern Egypt killed one police conscript and injured 19 officers and civilians – bringing the deathtoll from fighting since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi to at least 190, according to one estimate. |
| The overnight bomb attack in Mansoura marked an escalation in the methods used during clashes between Morsi supporters, his opponents and members of state security. In most previous clashes, weaponry has been limited to handguns, shotguns, stones and teargas – so the Mansoura blast raises fears that Egypt's violence may be entering an even more lethal phase. | The overnight bomb attack in Mansoura marked an escalation in the methods used during clashes between Morsi supporters, his opponents and members of state security. In most previous clashes, weaponry has been limited to handguns, shotguns, stones and teargas – so the Mansoura blast raises fears that Egypt's violence may be entering an even more lethal phase. |
| A spokesman for Egypt's interim president called the incident an act of terrorism. The largest coalition of pro-Morsi supporters, headed by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, were quick to distance themselves from the attack – while the Brotherhood even accused state institutions of organising it themselves. But those allied to Morsi's cause are not controlled by one single group. | A spokesman for Egypt's interim president called the incident an act of terrorism. The largest coalition of pro-Morsi supporters, headed by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, were quick to distance themselves from the attack – while the Brotherhood even accused state institutions of organising it themselves. But those allied to Morsi's cause are not controlled by one single group. |
| Following the attack, General Abdel-Fatah Sisi – the army chief who forced Morsi from power on 3 July – called for millions to protest this Friday. | Following the attack, General Abdel-Fatah Sisi – the army chief who forced Morsi from power on 3 July – called for millions to protest this Friday. |
| "I ask … that next Friday all honest and trustworthy Egyptians must come out," Sisi said in remarks broadcast live by state media. "Why come out? They come out to give me the mandate and order that I confront violence and potential terrorism." | "I ask … that next Friday all honest and trustworthy Egyptians must come out," Sisi said in remarks broadcast live by state media. "Why come out? They come out to give me the mandate and order that I confront violence and potential terrorism." |
| His speech prompted concerns that the military may be seeking popular legitimacy for a violent crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. It also added to fears that it is Sisi, rather than the civilian government he installed following Morsi's overthrow, who has the greatest influence on post-Morsi Egypt. | His speech prompted concerns that the military may be seeking popular legitimacy for a violent crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood. It also added to fears that it is Sisi, rather than the civilian government he installed following Morsi's overthrow, who has the greatest influence on post-Morsi Egypt. |
| The incident follows claims by the Muslim Brotherhood that three female Morsi supporters were shot dead during recent clashes in Mansoura. Morsi's faction allege their night-time marches in Cairo have been attacked on two successive nights by security forces or their proxies, killing at least nine people. On 8 July, security forces killed 51 Islamists outside a military compound. In turn, Morsi's opponents claim his armed supporters have started other fatal fights – in particular while marching provocatively through neighbourhoods south of Tahrir Square, the cradle of anti-Morsi dissent. | The incident follows claims by the Muslim Brotherhood that three female Morsi supporters were shot dead during recent clashes in Mansoura. Morsi's faction allege their night-time marches in Cairo have been attacked on two successive nights by security forces or their proxies, killing at least nine people. On 8 July, security forces killed 51 Islamists outside a military compound. In turn, Morsi's opponents claim his armed supporters have started other fatal fights – in particular while marching provocatively through neighbourhoods south of Tahrir Square, the cradle of anti-Morsi dissent. |
| The fighting accompanies a surge in militancy in Sinai – long-considered a hotbed of extremism – and a rise in sectarian attacks on Christians in southern Egypt. | The fighting accompanies a surge in militancy in Sinai – long-considered a hotbed of extremism – and a rise in sectarian attacks on Christians in southern Egypt. |
| Egypt is dangerously divided between a sizeable minority who support Morsi's rule, and the millions who called for him to leave in mass protests at the end of June. But even the anti-Morsi camp is divided between those who back the army's involvement in his downfall, and who may even welcome a return to Mubarak-style governance – and those who see the army as just as great a threat to everyday freedoms as Morsi. | Egypt is dangerously divided between a sizeable minority who support Morsi's rule, and the millions who called for him to leave in mass protests at the end of June. But even the anti-Morsi camp is divided between those who back the army's involvement in his downfall, and who may even welcome a return to Mubarak-style governance – and those who see the army as just as great a threat to everyday freedoms as Morsi. |
| Egypt's interim president – senior judge Adly Mansour, who was appointed by the army the day after Morsi's fall – has called for reconciliation talks between all sides on Wednesday. But the Muslim Brotherhood is unlikely to attend, pledging instead to maintain its disruptive street presence unless Morsi – who is being held incommunicado by the military – is reinstalled as president. | Egypt's interim president – senior judge Adly Mansour, who was appointed by the army the day after Morsi's fall – has called for reconciliation talks between all sides on Wednesday. But the Muslim Brotherhood is unlikely to attend, pledging instead to maintain its disruptive street presence unless Morsi – who is being held incommunicado by the military – is reinstalled as president. |
| Amid the polarisation, foreigners have suffered their share of vitriol. Syrian refugees in Egypt – who may number between 100,000 and 300,000 – have borne the brunt of the rise in xenophobia, after many Egyptians grew suspicious of the way Morsi's administration welcomed them with open arms, and indicated support for a holy war against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. | Amid the polarisation, foreigners have suffered their share of vitriol. Syrian refugees in Egypt – who may number between 100,000 and 300,000 – have borne the brunt of the rise in xenophobia, after many Egyptians grew suspicious of the way Morsi's administration welcomed them with open arms, and indicated support for a holy war against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. |
| Since 3 July, widely-watched Egyptian television hosts have threatened Syrians with hate-speech. In recent days, Egyptian soldiers arrested at least 70 Syrians on the pretext of faulty paperwork, and held them without charge for over 72 hours – prompting fears that the many Syrians who allowed their paperwork to slip under the lax Morsi administration may be soon be deported. | Since 3 July, widely-watched Egyptian television hosts have threatened Syrians with hate-speech. In recent days, Egyptian soldiers arrested at least 70 Syrians on the pretext of faulty paperwork, and held them without charge for over 72 hours – prompting fears that the many Syrians who allowed their paperwork to slip under the lax Morsi administration may be soon be deported. |
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