Anti-Morsi 'Rebel' campaign to hold press conference

Ahram Online , Tuesday 25 Jun 2013

Campaigners claim that they have been banned from speaking on state television and radio by pro-Brotherhood information minister

The anti-government Rebel campaign is due to hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce planned steps to legally validate the petitions it has gathered in support of a no-confidence vote in President Mohamed Morsi

The campaign said last week it had already reached its target of 15 million signatures endorsing its cause, to outnumber the 13.2 million votes Morsi won in Egypt's first-ever free presidential polls last year.

The anti-Morsi signature drive, which has taken centre stage in advance of the upcoming 30 June protests, has denied any connection with leaflets currently being circulated on Cairo's streets about planned events on the day.

The campaign appeared to have endorsed the latest controversial statement by Egypt's defence minister Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, in which he insinuated that Egypt's armed forces might make moves to curb mounting “friction” in the country.

The campaign hailed the Egyptian army as the "home of the Egyptian nationalism."

Campaign organisers have also condemned an alleged ban by Egypt's information minister Salah Abdel-Maqsoud, a Muslim Brotherhood member, on featuring any representatives of the group on state television or radio.

Campaigners claimed radio presenter Bahaa El-Malky has been suspended from work after he had hosted a Rebel member on his programme to talk about the run-up to the 30 June street protests.

El-Malky was reportedly referred to a disciplinary committee within the information ministry’s legal affairs department, on the grounds that Rebel is an illegitimate campaign that instigates dissent.

Rebel is the main force behind calls for anti-government demonstrations on 30 June which will press Morsi to step down and will demand early presidential elections, although many other opposition groups, including main coalition the National Salvation Front, have stated their intention to take part.

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