Interview: Muslim Brotherhood urges "peacefulness" in Egypt protests

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Interview: Muslim Brotherhood urges "peacefulness" in Egypt protests

(Xinhua) 13:35, August 16, 2013

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CAIRO, Aug. 15 -- The Muslim Brotherhood stresses the importance of maintaining peacefulness of the protests and not being dragged into the interim government's "provocation," its spokesman said.

In an interview with Xinhua on Thursday, Ahmed Aref also said the international position regarding the Egypt situation was "disappointing."

"The preliminary globally announced stance on Wednesday wasn't equivalent to the volume and atrocity of the crimes," he said, calling the international response "reluctant."

He added that there is a distinction between the ordinary citizens who took to the streets for early presidential elections on June 30, which is a legitimate right, and the forces that ousted President Mohamed Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood.

At least 578 deaths and 4,201 injuries have been reported by Egypt's Health Ministry in nationwide clashes between supporters of Morsi and the security troops, after the latter dispersed Wednesday two major pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza.

Unsurprisingly, the Muslim Brotherhood reported a much larger death toll, as its official website claimed that over 2,600 protesters were killed and more than 10,000 injured in the confrontations.

Aref said those responsible for the deaths should be sent for international trials.

Egypt has been witnessing riots since security forces dispersed on Wednesday two major sit-ins staged in support of Morsi for 54 days in Cairo and Giza.

The Interior Ministry warned Thursday that the police are going to use live ammunition against any further attacks on public or private properties, amid fresh calls by the Islamists to continue mass protests.

The decision came after the headquarters of Giza governorate was stormed and set on fire by Muslim Brotherhood supporters.

Since Wednesday, at least 67 people have been killed in Minya governorate in clashes between police and pro-Morsi protestors who attempted to storm several police stations.

Supporters of Morsi torched at least seven churches in reprisal attacks as police dispersed demonstrations in Cairo.

The National Front for Supporting Legitimacy, a pro-Morsi alliance led by the Muslim Brotherhood and comprising some 30 Islamist parties and movements, urged all Egyptians to join massive demonstrations on Friday dubbed "Friday of Anger" to protest against the recent killings.