CAIRO
By Islam Tawfiq
The pro-democracy National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy on Thursday called for mass protests on Sunday in Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya Square and Giza's Nahda Square to mark the passage of 100 days since this summer's bloody dispersal of two protest camps staged at both sites.
"We are calling for mass demonstrations in Rabaa and Nahda squares on Sunday to expose the crimes of this military coup and reaffirm our commitment to peaceful struggle against it," alliance leader Ali Khafagi told Anadolu Agency.
"Our weeklong protest activities, which are meant to commemorate the 'massacre of the century,' will begin on Friday," he added.
On August 14, Egyptian security forces used deadly force to clear the two protest camps by supporters of elected president Mohamed Morsi, leaving hundreds killed and thousands injured.
Morsi was ousted by Egypt's military establishment on July 3 following massive demonstrations against his presidency.
According to Khafagi, Sunday's planned protests are also meant to underline the determination of pro-democracy activists to press ahead with demands for the restoration of democracy.
Pro-democracy demonstrators have repeatedly tried to enter the two squares in recent months, but have been consistently thwarted by security forces.
"The alliance will also hold a press conference next Sunday to mark the passage of 100 days since the sit-in dispersals," Khafagi said.
He added that Sunday's protests would remind the world of the Egyptian people's struggle against what he described as the "coup leaders."
englishnews@aa.com.tr
