[simsim elmasry]

Egypt: Islamists mass to renew call for restoration of Mohammed Morsi as US calls for his release

Tens of thousands of Islamist demonstrators massed in Cairo as they renewed their calls for the restoration of Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's deposed president.



Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi offer their Friday prayer in Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt Photo: AP










By Robert Tait, Magdy Samaan in Cairo

6:31PM BST 12 Jul 2013


On the first Friday of Ramadan, protesters congregated at a makeshift camp near Rabba al-Adawiya mosque, which has served as a staging point for Mr Morsi's supporters in the Muslim Brotherhood movement for the past two weeks.

The rally came as the United States called upon the Egyptian army to release Mr Morsi, who has been imprisoned since his July 3 overthrow. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US agreed with an earlier appeal from Germany for the deposed president to be freed, and was “publicly” issuing the same request for “an end to restrictions on Mr Morsi’s whereabouts”.

It was the Brotherhood's first major show of force since at least 53 of its supporters were shot dead on Monday by Egyptian army troops outside the Republican Guard's officers' club, where the ousted president is believed to be held.

The Brotherhood has accused the army of carrying out a "massacre".

Mr Morsi was removed from office in a move instigated by the army following a wave of popular revolt against his presidency. His supporters have called his removal a military coup and claim it was orchestrated by the US and supported by its Western allies.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...s-release.html