Muslim Brotherhood protests erupt in Egypt ahead of Morsi trial
Supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi raise up posters with the four finger symbol during a demonstration against the military backed government in the Egyptian capital Cairo, on September 13, 2013. Thousands of Morsi supporters rallied in Cairo after Friday prayers chanting angry slogans against the military, with clashes reported elsewhere in Egypt. The four finger symbol, known as ‘Rabaa’, meaning four in Arabic, is used to remember those killed in the crackdown on the Rabaa al-Adawiya protest camp in Cairo in July.
Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters demonstrated across Egypt this weekend as the country prepares for the trial of ousted President Mohamed Morsi on charges of inciting murder.
In Alexandria, seven protesters were wounded in clashes with local residents Friday before security forces intervened, firing tear gas and arresting 13 demonstrators, security officials told Al-Jazeera.
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Fighting also erupted in the Gisr al-Suez district of Cairo.
The clashes came a day after police arrested 20 female Islamist activists in Alexandria after they scuffled with bystanders during a protest.
They also come amid reports of a visit Sunday by US Secretary of State John Kerry, his first since Morsi's fall.
Morsi, held at a secret location since being overthrown by the miliary on July 3, is charged with inciting the murder of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.
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He is to be tried along with 14 other defendants starting Monday.
Supporters chanted slogans denouncing the trial as "fake" and waved placards showing the four-fingered salute that has become the symbol of their protest.
“This is not a trial," demonstrator Ahmed Abdel Latif told euronews. "Until now no lawyer has been able to meet him and no volunteer has been able to take a copy of the papers of the case. This is not a trial – this is a farce."
Interior ministry officials say 20,000 policemen will be deployed on Monday to guard the south Cairo academy hosting the trial and to secure Morsi's transport to the makeshift court room.
Morsi will likely be representing himself.
AFP contributed to this report
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