Brotherhood Backers Rally In Egypt As Mursi Detention Extended

Supporters of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohamed Mursi took to the streets as authorities announced a 30-day extension to his detention pending probes into charges against him.

Protesters poured out of mosques after Friday prayers and marched through streets in Cairo, Giza, Assiut, Helwan and Alexandria, live televised footage showed. They held yellow cards showing the four fingers of a hand, a gesture adopted to show solidarity with the victims of an Aug. 14 raid by security forces on sit-ins of Mursi supporters that triggered a week of bloodshed in which about 1,000 people died.

The detention of Mursi’s chief of staff, Refaa El-Tahtawi, was extended for 15 days, state-run Ahram Online reported. Mursi has been held in a secret location since his ouster by the military on July 3. Allegations against him include claims he incited violence during deadly unrest in December, and escaping and assisting others to escape from Wadi al-Natrun jail, where he was detained before the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak.

Dozens of senior Muslim Brotherhood figures have been arrested in the past two months. The Brotherhood, from which Mursi hails, and its allies have vowed to maintain demonstrations until he is restored to office.

Source : bloomberg