Pro-Morsi protesters victimising themselves: Egypt presidency

Nada Hussein Rashwan, Sunday 28 Jul 2013

Following Saturday's bloody clashes between police and Morsi supporters, political affairs aide says Egyptian state 'will not stand silent in face of terrorism'

Mostafa Hegazi
Presidential aide for political affairs Mostafa Hegazi

Presidential aide for political affairs Mostafa Hegazi has accused the Islamist supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi of intentionally victimising themselves in order to gain a negotiation advantage.  Hegazi's accusation comes one day after the killing of at least 72 pro-Morsi protesters following clashes between police and Morsi supporters in Cairo's Nasr City.

"The Egyptian state will never accept the shedding of Egyptian blood, regardless of political affiliations, but it also will not stand silent in the face of blackmail and terrorism of its citizens," Hegazi said in a press conference on Sunday evening. "The law will be applied firmly and intently," he added.

Several human rights organisations and political figures have decried the excessive force used by police against Morsi supporters during early Saturday's clashes.

Hegazi added that the assaults on security units in Sinai's border region, as well as those against Morsi opponents, are organised attacks.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that what is going on now is a war of terrorism against [Egyptian] society. No political disagreement can be solved with violence," Hegazi said.

Hegazi went on to affirm that the post-Morsi political roadmap – enforced by the army following its popularly-backed removal of the former president on 3 July – will not be hindered.

Supporters of former president Morsi have staged regular demonstrations across Egyptian cities following the president's ouster. Many of these protests have developed into deadly clashes with police or unknown assailants.

Morsi supporters have also maintained a sit-in at Nasr City's Rabaa Al-Adawiya mosque since 28 June. The Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which Morsi hails, has stated that it will not negotiate until Morsi is reinstated as president.

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