[caption id="attachment_41463" align="alignright" width="210"] Egypt has been the scene of massive rival demonstrations by supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi over the past few weeks.[/caption]
Egypt braces for yet another Friday of massive rival demonstrations by supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi.
Interim Prime Minister Hazzem al-Beblawy has stressed the need for peaceful protests as supporters of Morsi and the Egyptian army prepare for demonstrations on Friday.
The president, his government, the police and army supports those who want to express their opinions without the use of violence, Beblawy stated during a press conference in Cairo on Thursday.
He expressed concern over the spread of violence and bloodshed, while calling on citizens to take to the streets to protect the countrys civil institutions.
The head of Egypts armed forces, General Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, had called for nationwide protests on Friday.
Sisi said in a speech on Thursday that the nationwide move will give the army a mandate to fight violence and terrorism, which have engulfed Egypt following the ouster of Morsi on July 3.
Egypts top religious authority, al-Azhar, has also asked people to join the protests.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood supporters have warned of a civil war, saying they will hold counter demonstrations.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood leaders, who are being held by the army, to be released or have their cases reviewed transparently without delay.
Some 170 people have died in clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi since the end of June.