By Umar Khan.
Tripoli, 16 August 2013:
Around 150 people gathered in front of the Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli yesterday . . .[restrict]to demonstrate against the massacre of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo on Wednesday. The demonstrators, who included 15 women, carried placards and chanted slogans against the military coup in Egypt. Funeral prayers for thosekilled on Wednesday were offered.
At least 638 people died when police broke up two pro-Morsi camps in the Egyptian capital. The Muslim Brotherhood claims at least 2,000 died. For their part, the Egyptian police claim that they came under fire when they broke up the protests and say that a number of their colleagues were also killed in the events.
In Tripoli yesterday, the demonstrators read a statement calling for an immediate reinstatement of Morsi’s government and the repealing of the emergency law imposed by the Egyptian military. It also demanded that the General National Congress order all diplomatic ties with Egypt to be cut until its elected government was restored. The statement was given to the embassy.
Apart from a minor incident, the demonstration was peaceful and the low turnout ensured traffic was not affected. The police presence was higher than usual and pushed back the demonstrators at one stage when they tried to get close to the embassy’s main gate.
The small crowd was addressed by Sheikh Abdul Basit Ghweila, an official of the Auqaaf ministry, who condemned the massacre and stressed on unity between Muslim countries. Also present were the leaders of two small political parties, Saami Al-Saadi of Ummah Al Wasat party and Ali Essbai of the Tajamma Al-Asala.
The demonstrators then dispersed after announcing another demonstration for tomorrow in Algeria Square after Asr prayers.
There was a similar pro-Morsi demonstration outside the Egyptian consulate in Benghazi yesterday, involving around 50 people. [/restrict]
