Egyptians rally in Cairo protesting against Morsi

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A man with an Egyptian flag and photos of former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser covered his body attends an anti-Muslim Brotherhood demonstration at Cairo's Tahrir Square in Egypt, May 17, 2013. Hundreds of Egyptian protesters flocked Friday to Cairo's Tahrir Square to join demonstration condemning the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood. [Xinhua/Li Muzi]

Hundreds of protesters flocked Friday to central Tahrir Square in Egyptian capital of Cairo to join demonstrations condemning the rule of President Mohamed Morsi and ruling Muslim Brotherhood group.

The demonstrations dubbed as "Back to Square" were called by some political movements, including April 6 Movement, Revolutionary Youth Coalition and the Egyptian Popular Current as well as some liberal parties like Dostour Party.

Some protesters on the podium, set up in the iconic square, chanted slogans against the army, witnesses told Xinhua. But the protesters in the square responded by chanting "the army and the people are one hand."

Different marches from several districts gathered into the square, at the head of one march people were carrying two large banners, one reading "an early presidential election" and the other "a unifying constitution for Egypt," he added.

Traffic movement is partially back to normal in the Square after protesters opened the way to cars from one direction. Scores of protestors set up vigilance committees to organize the entry of protesters to the square.

In anticipation of any clashes, security measures had been intensified around the interior ministry, close to Tahrir Square, as it has been the scene of violent confrontations in the past, official news agency MENA reported.

Also security forces have been spreading in the vicinity of the al-Etahdeya Presidential palace in Masr al-Gedeeda district and near the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Moqattam district.

The opposition accuses Morsi of governing only in the interests of his Muslim Brotherhood, while he repeated in every occasion he is the "president of all Egyptians."

The recent "Tamarrud" (Arabic for "rebel") campaign that aims to put pressure on Morsi to call for an early presidential election also joined the demonstrations to collect anti-Morsi signatures from the protesters.

Hassan Shaheen, spokesman of the "Tamarrud" announced in a press conference Friday the campaign managed to collect three million signatures so far.

He added the ruling regime citing the campaign as criminal "the real crisis they face," asserting the legality of his movement based on the constitution said that the people are the only source for all authorities.

"I, the undersigned as a member of the National Assembly of the Egyptian people, hereby announce that I withdraw confidence from President Mohamed Morsi and I call for holding early presidential election," the campaign application form states.

In the underground Sadat station, Nourhan Ibrahim, Rebel's activist was trying to explain the objectives of the campaign, distributing copies of the campaign's statement on the passengers to sign, Xinhua reporter said.

Nourhan asked those who signed to write their national ID card number, to give the statement the legal frame.

Three universities students refused to sign, citing "we should give the president more time to run the country," while a lady in her forties signed the statement by saying that "we must at least say no for MB's bad performance, even if this paper is legally worthless."

DIFFERENT REACTIONS

Former prime minister and ex-presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, stated in a statement, that the increasing signatures in different Egyptian governorates reflect a unanimously Egyptian awareness, not one specific political faction.

"This is a strong massage for the world abroad and all powers supported the Islamic regime," he added the campaign is an important step for massive peaceful civil disobedience.Though Shafiq has signed the application, but the campaign on its website, announced rejection for Shafiq deeming him as a member of the ousted regime.

Leading figure of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed el-Beltagi described calls for withdrawing confidence from President Mohamed Morsi as "illogical."

He called on the Rebel campaigners to make use of the alleged signatures to create a political party to enable them to have the majority in the parliament.

"The campaign is nothing more than an opinion poll," he added.

Egyptian Liberal party stated the demands of Friday's protests to hold early presidential elections undermine the constitutional legitimacy in Egypt.

"Political powers have not agreed on goals of today's protests, including calls for early presidential elections and toppling current regime," Mohammed Helmi Durah, secretary general of the party said in a statement on Friday.

He stressed that calls to draft a new constitution means continuity of the state of chaos in the country.

Abou Al Elaa Maddi, head of a moderate Islamic Wassat Party, said no one oppose any peaceful way to express opinion, citing the campaign is a kind of political pressure, but it has no influence, adding it has legal problems, and that there is no legal text to justify its practices.

He added if the campaign managed to collect 10 million signatures, the opposition will take the majority in the parliament seats.

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