Egypt’s interim govt. tells pro-Morsi protesters to disperse

Egypt’s Interior Ministry has called on thousands of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi to leave their Cairo protest camps, promising them a “safe exit.”

The ministry issued a statement on Thursday asking protesters to end their sit-ins in the Egyptian capital.

The situation in Egypt remains extremely tense as opponents of the July 3 military coup which unseated Morsi defy the interim government’s call to end their rallies.

Thousands of supporters have continued their sit-in protests in Cairo despite recent clashes with security forces that claimed dozens of lives. The angry protesters have pledged to hold a million-strong march on Friday.

The interim government has already ordered security forces to clear two protest camps packed with Morsi supporters.

On Wednesday, the interim authorities declared Muslim Brotherhood’s sit-ins in Cairo as a threat to “national security,” saying it would “take all necessary measures” to put an end to the mass protests.

“The cabinet has decided at its meeting today to start taking all necessary measures to deal with perils related to sit-ins and to authorize the interior minister to take all what is necessary to end the sit-ins of Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda in accordance with law and the constitution,” the interim government said in a statement.

The Muslim Brotherhood says the move raises the possibility of more violence. Morsi’s supporters are demanding his reinstatement.

Meanwhile, Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad el-Haddad said after the statement that “nothing will change” and that the protests will go on.

On July 27, at least 150 people were killed and scores of others injured in clashes during rival demonstrations by the supporters and opponents of Morsi across the country.