Egypt cabinet debates fate of Brotherhood
Egypt's army-backed rulers met yesterday to discuss their bloody confrontation with deposed President Mohamed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood amid contrasting proposals for compromise and a fight to the death.
Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi cancelled some Cairo marches yesterday for "security reasons", as the military chief vowed to face down violent protests following Egypt's bloodiest week in decades.
The Islamists said they cancelled "several marches", citing fears of vigilantes and snipers, but others went ahead as planned.
In a speech to military and police officers, army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi promised to crack down on anyone using violence, but also struck an apparently inclusive note, telling Morsi's supporters: "There is room for everyone in Egypt," according to the army's Facebook page.
"Whoever imagines violence will make the state and Egyptians kneel must reconsider; we will never be silent in the face of the destruction of the country," Sisi told a meeting of top military and police commanders.
At least 36 people were killed when members of the Muslim Brotherhood tried to escape during their transfer to a prison on the outskirts of Cairo yesterday.
The Mena state news agency reported that gunmen exchanged fire with guards of prison vehicles transporting more than 600 detainees to Abu Zaabal prison in Qalyubia province, north of the capital, reports BBC.
Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, is grappling with the worst bout of internal bloodshed in its modern history, just 30 months after President Hosni Mubarak's overthrow was hailed as heralding democratic change across a region ruled by autocrats.
More than 800 people have died, including about 79 police, in a crackdown that has earned the military rulers condemnation from major aid donor the United States and the European Union, but support from wealthy Arab allies led by Saudi Arabia, which fear the spread of Brotherhood ideology to the Gulf monarchies.
Before the cabinet met, the liberal deputy prime minister, Ziad Bahaa el-Din, had floated a conciliatory proposal, seen by Reuters, advocating an end to a state of emergency declared last week, political participation for all parties and guarantees of human rights, including the right to free assembly.
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