Back to Squares, Egypt Rivals Hold Rallies Friday

Local Editor

The Brotherhood has already rejected a Beblawi offer to join the new government. They said the mass rally called for Friday was against what it called "a bloody military coup".

The United States, meanwhile, said it was pressing ahead with plans to deliver four F-16 fighters to Egypt, a US official said.

There was no decision to halt the scheduled transfer of the warplanes or to cut off other security assistance to Egypt, the official said on condition of anonymity, even though Washington has announced a review of all aid to Cairo.

In Cairo, the bloody run-up to Ramadan has marred the onset of the holy month.
In the worst incident, clashes around an army building on Monday left 53 people dead.

Meanwhile, police were hunting the Brotherhood's Supreme Guide, Mohammed Badie, after a warrant was issued for his arrest on Wednesday.
Badie and other senior Brotherhood leaders are wanted on suspicion of inciting the clashes.

Last week, Badie gave a fiery speech in which he vowed that Brotherhood activists would throng the streets in their millions until Mursi's presidency was restored.
Mursi himself is currently being held in a "safe place, for his safety", foreign ministry spokesperson Badr Abdelatty told reporters on Wednesday, adding: "He is not charged with anything up till now."

The public prosecutor pressed charges on Wednesday against 200 of 650 people detained during the violence.

Adly Mansour, the military-appointed caretaker president, has set a timetable for elections by early next year.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team