Morsi threatens ‘decisive action’ against protesters

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi says his administration will take “decisive” measures to protect state buildings as opposition protesters clash with security forces outside government offices.

Security forces will “act with utmost decisiveness” to protect state buildings, Morsi said in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday.

The presidency will hold “politically accountable” opposition groups behind the violence, the statement added.

Morsi said protesters had tried to break down the Presidential Palace gates and scale its walls, and demanded that opposition groups denounce the violence and call on their followers to withdraw.

The opposition National Salvation Front, which called for mass rallies on Friday, denied any connection with “the trouble that erupted suddenly in front of the Presidential Palace.”

The group condemned all acts of violence and urged security forces to exercise “utmost restraint” with the protesters.