Egypt Security Forces Disperse Pro-Morsi Rallies

Egyptian security forces on Friday forcibly dispersed demonstrations staged by supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi to mark the passage of one year since his ouster by the military.

Security forces fired teargas and birdshot at two separate demonstrations in Cairo shortly after they began, eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency.

In the coastal city of Alexandria, a security source said four protesters had been arrested "in possession of pro-Morsi posters and flyers."

Security forces also broke up pro-Morsi protests in the southern Minya, Beni Sueif and Assuit provinces.

Friday's protests came as part of a "day of rage" called for earlier by the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, Morsi's main support bloc, to mark one year since the July 3 ouster of the country's first democratically elected president.

On Friday, at least three protesters and one police officer were killed in different parts of Egypt during rallies staged by Morsi supporters.

Since Morsi's overthrow one year ago, Egypt's military-backed authorities have waged a fierce crackdown on his supporters, leaving hundreds dead and tens of thousands said to be detained.

Morsi, a leader of the embattled Muslim Brotherhood group, was forcibly removed from office by the military – led by former army chief and current president, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi – following mass opposition protests that began on June 30 of last year.

While Morsi supporters describe his ouster as an illegitimate "military coup," his critics call it an "army-backed uprising."

englishnews@aa.com.tr

www.aa.com.tr/en - Kahire