Post date: Jul 04, 2013 12:36:18 AM
Supporters of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi say he is their legitimate representative and they will die to defend him.
CAIRO, EGYPT (JULY 3, 2013) (REUTERS) - Supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi rallied in front of Rabaa mosque in Cairo on Wednesday (July 3), saying they would die before allowing him to be removed from office.
Egypt's armed forces overthrew elected Islamist President Mursi on Wednesday and announced a political transition with the support of a wide range of political, religious and youth leaders.The Muslim Brotherhood president, in office for just a year, was at a Republican Guard barracks surrounded by barbed wire, barriers and troops, but it was not clear whether he was under arrest.
His supporters, rallying under the watchful eye of the armed forces, said they would die for him.
"The legitimacy is with President Mursi and we will die for the sake of Mursi. Mursi came with the ballot box, then he must leave with the ballot box, not by force. What then is the use of the ballot box and democracy? The democracy that the whole world calls for," said Abdel Ghaffar Mohamed.
"God willing we will not leave here until the president we voted for under the name of God and his prophet is reinstalled in office, or else we shall become martyrs," said Ahmed Hassaan.
The official spokesman of the Muslim Brotherhood also said supporters were willing to become martyrs to defend Mursi.