Supporters of ousted Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, shout slogans during a march in Alexandria on August 16, 2013.
Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters have taken to the streets of Egyptian capital Cairo and other cities to hold a rally dubbed Å“Friday of Anger.”
Mass rallies are underway at several mosques in Cairo in addition to other cities including Alexandria, Ismailia, Assiut and Tanta.
Security forces fired bird shot and tear gas at supporters of Muslim Brotherhood in Assiut.
In the Nile Delta city of Tanta, Egyptian security forces clashed with supporters of Morsi, who were chanting Å“down with military rule.”
The protests come in reaction to the Wednesday massacre, which according to Egyptian health officials left at least 638 people dead.
However, the Muslim Brotherhood put the death toll far higher, saying more than 2,000 people had died. It has vowed to peacefully defeat the military coup that led to Morsiâ„¢s ouster last month.
On Friday, Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad wrote in a message posted on Twitter, Å“Anti-coup rallies … will depart from all mosques of Cairo and head towards Ramsis Square after prayer in ËœFriday of Anger.â„¢”
On the same day, Muslim Brotherhoodâ„¢s Freedom and Justice Party issued a statement saying the group Å“will continue to mobilize people to take to the streets without resorting to violence and without vandalism.”
Å“The struggle to overthrow this illegitimate regime is an obligation, an Islamic, national, moral, and human obligation which we will not steer away from until justice and freedom prevail, and until repression is conquered,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, dozens of army vehicles have closed off the streets in northeastern Cairo were Brotherhood headquarters are located.
Egypt is currently under a month-long curfew and the interior minister has ordered police to use live ammunition in case of attacks against state buildings.
Tension has intensified in Egypt since July 3, when army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi removed Morsi from office, declared the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, as interim president, suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament.
MAM/SS
Republished from: Press TV