Rallies to support Morsi end peacefully

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Millions of Egyptians have marched through Cairo to call for the reinstatement of deposed president Mohamed Morsi but there was no repeat of the pitched battles that erupted in the streets last week.

Large groups of supporters were still out around the capital in the early hours of Saturday.

Crowds in the Nasr City area chanted anti-military slogans calling Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, the country's army chief, a traitor. Near the defense ministry, hundreds stood behind barbed wire shouting at soldiers just a few meters away.

A large crowd of Morsi supporters made its way along Ramses Street, close to Tahrir Square, and hundreds were on 6 October Bridge, where some of the worst clashes with anti-Morsi demonstrators took place a week ago.

"I am here to say 'no' to the military coup and 'yes' to Morsi, who I see as my legitimate president, although I am not in the Brotherhood and nor did I vote for him," Ahmed Adel, a 22-year-old student, told Reuters news agency.

A smaller crowd gathered in Tahrir Square, the crucible of anti-Morsi protests, for a traditional fast-breaking meal at sunset.
A week earlier, similar protests turned violent when pro- and anti-Morsi demonstrators clashed in cities and towns across the country, killing 35 people and deepening divides between Egyptians on different sides of the political divide.

Three days later, soldiers opened fire on a group of pro-Morsi demonstrators outside the Republican Guard compound in Cairo, where some of his supporters believe he is being held, killing 53.

Calls for Morsi's release

The United States on Saturday called on Egypt's military to free Morsi. State Department spokeswoman Je Psaki said the US agreed with Germany's earlier appeal for Morsi to be released and was "publicly" making the same request.

Morsi is currently being held in a "safe place, for his safety," foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the former Egyptian leader had not been charged with anything to date.

PHOTO CAPTION

Supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, seen in poster, protest in Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, July 9, 2013.

Al-Jazeera

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