Egypt's powerful army chief today appealed to people to hold nationwide rallies on Friday and give him a mandate to crush "terrorism and violence" by the supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, enraging the Islamists to announce anti-coup protests on the same day.
"I urge the people to take to the streets this coming Friday to prove their will and give me, the army and police, a mandate to confront possible violence and terrorism," Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said.
"Nevertheless this does not mean I am advocating for violence or terrorism," El-Sisi, who is also the Defence Minister, said in a speech at a military graduation ceremony in Alexandria broadcast live on state television.
He rejected rumours about divisions within the army ranks. "I swear by God that the Egyptian army is united," he said.
The Muslim Brotherhood condemned El-Sisi's call for nationwide rallies as a "threat" that would not intimidate them from continuing their protests.
The marches will be held in all provinces under the slogan "the people want to bring down the coup," the Muslim Brotherhood-led coalition said in a statement today.
The Islamists publicised the starting points for the marches on Friday hours after El-Sisi called for mass protests to justify a crackdown on "terrorism and violence."
They accused El-Sisi of betraying and conspiring against the Islamist leader, calling the army's move to remove him from power on July 3 a "military coup".
"I did not deceive the former president," El-Sisi said, denying accusations of his betrayal.
"We advised the former president several times since the November Constitutional declaration," he said, adding that his advice was ignored by Morsi.
"The former president was advised, directly and indirectly, either to step down or hold a referendum to see if the people want him or not," El-Sisi stated.
"I made it clear that the army is under his commandership only as the president according to the legitimacy he was granted from the people," El-Sisi added.
Reacting to the El-Sisi's call, senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam al-Erian said they would not be intimidated.
"Your threat will not prevent millions from continuously protesting," Erian said in a statement.
Meanwhile, deadly clashes between the supporters and the opposition of Morsi have left at least 13 people dead and over 100 injured since Monday.
The military ousted Morsi, 61, on July 3 following days of massive street protests by millions of Egyptians demanding that the Islamist president step down.
His supporters are calling for his reinstatement and insist they would not join the military-backed political process until then.
