CAIRO
Essam al-Erian, deputy head of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, criticized on Wednesday a televised speech by army chief and Defense Minister Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi.
"If the military coup had supporters, they would have taken to the streets in a show of support by now," al-Erian said on his Facebook page.
Earlier today, al-Sisi urged Egyptians to participate in planned Friday protests to "authorize" him to "confront violence."
"I'm asking the Egyptian people to go out like they did on June 30 and July 3," he said in a televised address at a graduation ceremony for military cadets.
"I want you to show the world that you are authorizing me to confront any possible violence and terrorism," he added.
The Muslim Brotherhood leader, for his part, condemned al-Sisi's appeal.
"Appealing to the people will do you no good," al-Erian said.
"Your threats will not deter millions of people who will demonstrate on Friday against the military coup and its leaders," he insisted.
The powerful army overthrew Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, on July 3 following mass protests against his regime.
It suspended the constitution and installed Adly Mansour, the head of the constitutional court, as interim president.
Morsi loyalists accuse Egypt army chief of inciting violence
Wednesday's televised speech by army chief and Defense Minister Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi drew the ire of ousted President Mohammed Morsi's supporters who have been camping out in Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya Square.
"He's inciting people to attack Islamists, which is a crime under law," Islam Hosni, a pro-Morsi demonstrator, told the Anadolu Agency.
"This is proof of his weakness," said Wael Meqlad, another Morsi loyalist.
Earlier today, al-Sisi urged Egyptians to take to the streets for mass protests Friday to "authorize me to confront violence."
"I'm asking the Egyptian people to go out like they did on June 30 and July 3," he said in a televised address at a graduation ceremony for military cadets.
"I want you to show the world that you are authorizing me to confront any possible violence and terrorism," he declared.
"This is a call for civil war," fumed Mohamed Ismail al-Sharqawi, another Morsi supporter.
"Al-Sisi wants to justify his position because he's under pressure from foreign countries after they saw our mass protests," al-Sharqawi added.
Tamarod supports Sisi's call for mass Friday protest
Tamarod, the protest movement that led the campaign to oust elected President Mohamed Morsi, voiced its support on Wednesday for army chief and Defense Minister Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi's call for mass Friday protests to "authorize" him to "confront violence and terrorism."
"We welcome al-Sisi's call, demand the trial of the ousted president and support the armed forces in its imminent war against terrorism," Tamarod said on its Facebook page.
Earlier today, al-Sisi urged Egyptians to take to the streets for mass Friday protests to "authorize" him to "confront violence."
"I'm asking the Egyptian people to go out like they did on June 30 and July 3," he said in a televised address at a graduation ceremony for military cadets.
"I want you to show the world that you are authorizing me to confront any possible violence and terrorism," he added.
National Salvation Front says response to Sisi's protest call will exceed June 30
The National Salvation Front (NSF) on Wednesday welcomed army chief and Defense Minister Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi's call for mass Friday protests to "authorize" him to "confront violence and terrorism."
"This call will be met favorably in numbers greater than those who protested on June 30," said senior NSF leader Ahmed Darrag.
"This call came from a man who now represents all Egyptians, and his call will be answered by all sections of society, including youth groups," he added.
Earlier today, al-Sisi urged Egyptians to take to the streets for mass Friday protests to "authorize" him to "confront violence."
"I'm asking the Egyptian people to go out like they did on June 30 and July 3," he said in a televised address at a graduation ceremony for military cadets.
"I want you to show the world that you are authorizing me to confront any possible violence and terrorism," he added.
According to the NSF's Darrag, al-Sisi has every right to demand popular authorization, which he described as a "democratic practice."
"He has the right to do so because he is in charge of Egypt's national security," he said.
Former Morsi aide urges Egyptians to continue protests
Imad Abdul-Ghafoor, a former aide to Egypt's deposed President Mohammed Morsi, called on Morsi loyalists to continue to protests to defend his democratic legitimacy and demand his reinstatement.
Abdul-Ghafoor said in his address in Cairo's Rab'a al-Adaweya Square they would never accept injustice adding "We will live freely, not as slaves."
He rejected rumors that he had met chief of the military and Defense Minister Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, saying he was informed by some military officials about Morsi but added that he did not trust what he was told.
Morsi detained somewhere no one knew.
Egypt has been in a political turmoil since the army deposed Morsi on July 3 following mass demonstrations against his regime. Morsi is held at an undisclosed location ever since.
Morsi supporters have been organizing demonstrations nationwide to defend his democratic legitimacy and demand his reinstatement since the onset of Egypt crisis.
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