Morsi supporters disrupt traffic, call for ‘billion-man’ marches

It was another day and another march for supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi as they blocked Cairo’s already-congested Salah Salem Street early Sunday before turning back toward Rabea al-Adayewa, where they have been staging a sit-in for over a month.

The brief protest, according to the Freedom and Justice news portal, was intended to send a message to the “leaders of the coup” that the option of escalation is always on the table, “with no ceiling or limits,” until legitimacy is restored, emphasizing the peaceful nature of their protests.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure the flow of traffic. It urged protesters to protest peacefully and refrain from blocking roads and preventing citizens from carrying out their business, which is in “blatant violation of the law.”

Supporters of the deposed president also marched through different areas in Cairo and Giza, including Maadi and Mohandiseen. 

Morsi’s supporters have also called for mass protests later on Sunday to commemorate Laylat al-Qadr, the anniversary of the night Muslims believe the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohamed, during which they will “pray against the oppressors.”

The Islamist National Alliance to Support Legitimacy also called for “billion-man marches” across the world to join their counterparts in Egypt in their prayers.

Early Sunday, protesters at Rabaa al-Adaweya claimed there was an attempt by the Interior Ministry and Armed Forces to storm the sit-in and kidnap some of the protesters.

The protesters’ resilience apparently foiled the attempt and drove the tanks away, according to Gehad al-Haddad, a Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson.

On Saturday, representatives from the alliance met with a US delegation to reiterate their support for legitimacy and call for the return of Morsi and the reinstatement of the Shura Council.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces removed Morsi from office on July 3 after four days of mass protests. It also dissolved the Islamist-dominated Shura Council and suspended the Constitution.

The alliance’s representatives, including senior Brotherhood member Amr Darrag and Al-Wasat Party leader Tarek el-Malt met with Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and the Europeans Union's special envoy, Bernardino Leon.

During the meeting, the anti-coup alliance expressed its rejection of statements made by US Secretary of State John Kerry that the Egyptian military was restoring democracy by deposing Morsi.

The alliance also denounced any foreign interference in domestic affairs.

In a statement issued Saturday, the alliance said it welcomed any political solutions based on legitimacy and the rejection of what it refers to as a coup.