Fights broke out during a rally in Mahalla on Thursday that was organized in support of President Mohamed Morsy’s reshuffling of key security and intelligence positions in the wake of Sunday’s Egypt-Israel border attacks.
Light clashes broke out between Morsy supporters and detractors during the rally in Shoan Square, which was organized by the April 6 Youth Movement and the Freedom and Justice Party, after Free Egyptians Party leader Yousry al-Gazzar and others began chanting against the Muslim Brotherhood.
Morsy supporters responded by chanting, “There are the feloul (remnants of the old regime).”
FJP leaders intervened before the situation escalated.
Also in Gharbiya Governorate, April 6 members organized a number of silent protests in Tanta, Kafr el-Zayat and Santa to honor the officers killed in the Sinai attacks and to show support for Morsy’s new security appointments.
The protesters wore black clothes and raised banners that called on the armed forces to completely withdraw from the political arena and focus on protecting the borders, chanting, "The people want to purge the media," and "Free revolutionaries, we will continue the path."
Mostafa Amin, the coordinator of April 6 in Gharbiya, called for purging state institutions of all corruption, especially by rooting out any former members of the now-dissolved National Democratic Party. He continued that the protesters call for the removal of Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, an amendment to the peace treaty with Israel and a complete investigation into the border incident.
On Wednesday Morsy sacked North Sinai governor Abdel Wahab Mabrouk, head of Cairo Security Directorate Mohsen Mourad, intelligence chief Mourad Mowafy, head of the military police Major General Hamdi Badin and head of the presidential guards Mohamed Naguib.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
