Latest opinion poll by the Egyptian Centre for Public Opinion Research (Baseera) indicated that 67 percent of Egyptians are “content” with the police’s dispersal operation of two pro-Morsi sit-ins on 14 August.
The same poll showed that 24 percent of respondents aren’t content and 9 percent are undecided.
According to Magued Osman, head of the Centre, the poll also showed that only 17 percent of the respondents believe the sit-in was unarmed. Sixty-seven percent believe it contained weapons, and only 16 percent say they don’t know.
Twenty-four percent of Egyptians who participated in the survey say it would have been better to give more time for negotiations. Meanwhile, 70 percent view the time period the Muslim Brotherhood had to end their protests was sufficient and they should not be given more chances.
Regarding the use of force to disperse the pro-Morsi sit-ins, 23 percent say the dispersal used excessive force, while 65 percent believe it wasn’t too violent. However, 56 percent of respondents consider the death toll from the dispersal to be too high. Thirty-four percent didn’t think it was. Sixty-two percent say the reason for the high number is due to the protesters and only 13 percent say the police are responsible, and 25 percent aren’t sure.
On international reactions, 78 percent of respondents believe countries who object to the security forces’ move don’t have the right to do so, while 8 percent say it is the right reaction, and 15 percent aren’t sure.
Thirty-nine percent of respondents believe the Egyptian responses to international reactions were good, while 32 percent say it was average, and 10 percent say it was bad.
The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,395 Egyptians ages 18+ via telephone and mobile interviews from 19-21 August. The research was launched four days following the dispersal of the sit-ins to allow people to grasp an understanding of the events and form a sense of the aftermath, according to Osman.
Morsi supporters protested for several weeks at Cairo’s Rabaa Al-Adawiya and Giza’s Al-Nahda calling for the reinstatement of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
Source : Ahram