Sohag Demonstrations Against Morsy ‘s Visit

SOHAG,(ST)_Huge demonstrations took the streets  of the Egyptian Sohag Governorate on Saturday in  rejection of  Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy’ s   visit and  clashes erupted between Muslim Brotherhood  members and the demonstrators.

The demonstrators represented  opposition  forces and parties including the Salvation Front and the  popular  trends and  the movements of April 6 , Kefaya, and ” Liars in the name of religion “

Central Security forces in Sohag had prevented the arrival at the stadium of demonstrations organized by political forces and citizens opposed to the Brotherhood.

Clashes erupted between members of the Muslim Brotherhood and demonstrators who carried a coffin wrapped with the Egyptian flag, an expression of the death of Egypt under Brotherhood rule. They also held a picture of late journalist Husseini Abu Deif, killed covering clashes at the presidential palace in December, who was from Sohag.

Husseini ‘s brother, Sami Abu Deif, also joined the demonstrations, to express the family’s rejection of Morsy ‘s visit.

Security forces threw tear gas to disperse the demonstrators and fights.

Demonstrators blocked Akhmim Bridge leading to the stadium and governorate office buildings.

Protestors chanted slogans against the president and the Muslim Brotherhood, including, I am not an infidel, I am not an atheist, down with the rule of the Supreme Guide [of the Brotherhood], Explain to him [Morsy] that Egypt is not his fathers property, and The treacherous sold out the revolution in the name of religion.

The visit witnessed a heavy security presence, with main roads through which the presidential motorcade would pass shut down, further aggravating citizens.

The presidential commission supervising the visit cancelled President Morsy’ s opening a pasta factory owned by the Armed Forces, after it was reported that former President Mubarak inaugurated it five years ago.

T. Fateh