Protesters prepare for large rallies in Cairo

 

Supporters and opponents of the ousted Egyptian Islamist President Mohammed Morsi are preparing to stage large rallies in Cairo on the first Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan, BBC reports.

Mr. Morsi’s supporters hope that millions will continue to back their call for his reinstatement.

Those whose mass demonstrations led to his removal by the military last week will gather in Tahrir Square.

Dozens of people have died in deadly clashes since Mr. Morsi’s ousting.

The BBC says Mr. Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement may have alienated many people while in office, but many Egyptians are also uneasy at the military’s intervention in the country’s politics, and what is emerging is a battle for public opinion and the middle ground.

On Thursday the United States urged Egypt’s leadership to stop the new authorities’ “arbitrary” arrests of Muslim Brotherhood members, warning against targeting any particular group.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has also warned against the exclusion of any party from the political process.

However, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the administration did not believe it should immediately suspend aid to Egypt.

Washington is due to send four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt, but has not publicly confirmed that the delivery will go ahead.