00:55Egypt: Islamist rally boosts Morsi amid anti-government protest fears
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Egypt: Islamist rally boosts Morsi amid anti-government protest fears
Egyptian Islamists held a several thousand-strong rally in the nation's capital Cairo on Friday in a display of support for President Mohamed Morsi. The rally was held ahead of a 'million man rally' against the president arranged by opposition forces for June 30.
After Friday prayers, bearded Islamists in long robes and green bandanas wielded flags of Egypt's trademark red, white and black alongside posters of the president and green banners of the Muslim Brotherhood which is affiliated with Morsi's Freedom and Justice party.
The grassroots opposition group Tamarod (Rebel) hopes to collect 15 million signatures by June 30, when activists are planning a million-man rally at the presidential palace hoping to force the president to step down. The group cites Morsi's failure to achieve the goals of Egypt's January 25, 2011 revolution, including restoring domestic security and narrowing the gap between the country's richest and poorest socio-economic segments.
Despite winning the democratic presidential election in May 2012, Morsi's government has been rattled by nationwide unrest which began with protests to oust former president Hosni Mubarak in January 2011.
00:55NONE
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Egypt: Islamist rally boosts Morsi amid anti-government protest fears
Egyptian Islamists held a several thousand-strong rally in the nation's capital Cairo on Friday in a display of support for President Mohamed Morsi. The rally was held ahead of a 'million man rally' against the president arranged by opposition forces for June 30.
After Friday prayers, bearded Islamists in long robes and green bandanas wielded flags of Egypt's trademark red, white and black alongside posters of the president and green banners of the Muslim Brotherhood which is affiliated with Morsi's Freedom and Justice party.
The grassroots opposition group Tamarod (Rebel) hopes to collect 15 million signatures by June 30, when activists are planning a million-man rally at the presidential palace hoping to force the president to step down. The group cites Morsi's failure to achieve the goals of Egypt's January 25, 2011 revolution, including restoring domestic security and narrowing the gap between the country's richest and poorest socio-economic segments.
Despite winning the democratic presidential election in May 2012, Morsi's government has been rattled by nationwide unrest which began with protests to oust former president Hosni Mubarak in January 2011.