Morsi supporters stage protests ahead of coup anniversary

Supporters of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi staged fresh protests on Friday to call for his reinstatement, one week ahead of the anniversary of his ouster in a military coup.

The rallies came in response to calls by the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, Morsi’s main support bloc, for a week of protests in the run-up to the overthrow of Morsi in July 2013.

Scores of protesters marched in several provinces including, Cairo, Alexandria and Gharbiya in the Nile Delta.

Protesters chanted slogans against the army and police and called for the release of detainees held by authorities in the last two years since Morsi’s overthrow.

Egypt has been dogged by turmoil since the military unseated Morsi, the country’s first freely elected president, in a 2013 coup following protests against his administration.

Since Morsi's ouster, Egyptian authorities have carried out a relentless crackdown on dissent that has mainly targeted the ousted president’s supporters, leaving hundreds dead and thousands behind bars.

Anadolu Agency