Egyptian army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's recent speech calling for protests against “terrorism” was a call for civil war, the pro-Morsi National Alliance to Support Legitimacy has said.
Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya's Safwat Abdelghany made the statement on behalf of the alliance on Wednesday at the pro-Morsi protest at Rabaa Al-Adawiya, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.
"El-Sisi's speech is a clear sign that those who executed the coup are experiencing confusion and are losing the right [path]. [The speech] was similar to Bashar Al-Assad's speech that urged war against the Syrian nation, and asked for a similar mandate [against terrorism]," Abdelghany said.
In a speech on Wednesday, El-Sisi asked for nationwide rallies on Friday to give the armed forces and police a mandate to crackdown on “violence and terrorism.”
"What El-Sisi said proves what we have previously said – that he is the mastermind behind the coup – and he is ruling the country, killing and running this vicious war on the people," Abdelghany added.
Talk of a war on terrorism, according to Abdelghany, proves that recent "explosions and criminal acts against both civilians and the army were attempts by the intelligence service to create an atmosphere that hides serious violations and repression. The media has been encouraging this [atmosphere]."
Abdelghany insisted that El-Sisi's "call for civil war will not frighten the Egyptian people but will only increase its determination.”
He went on to cite how Morsi supporters were not scared when they were attacked by the armed forces and police at the Republican Guard headquarters, Giza's Al-Nahda Square, in Mansoura and other places across the country.
"Our revolution has been and will remain peaceful. No one will force us out of our peacefulness," he asserted. "The blood of the martyrs will triumph over bullets of treachery and betrayal."
The alliance has called on the United Nations and human rights organisations to denounce the “plans for bloodshed.” It has also called on the International Criminal Court to prosecute El-Sisi for crimes against humanity.
The alliance has also asked Egypt's Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Coptic Pope Tawadros, political parties and movements to take a clear stance against this "atrocious call for fighting" and not to be used as a cover for more killing.
Abdelghany urged the army and police not to respond to the "irresponsible message for bloodshed against their Egyptian brothers."
Concluding the speech, the alliance called for protests to continue until the coup is reversed and Mohamed Morsi is reinstated.
El-Sisi's call for protests against terrorism follows a series of violent clashes across the country following Morsi's ouster on 3 July. A few days after the Morsi's removal, High Constitutional Court head Adly Mansour was sworn in as interim president.
Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist allies have refused to acknowledge Mansour and his transitional cabinet, stating Morsi is the legitimate president.
Short link: