Morsi Defiant As Trial Opens

Deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi appeared at a trial yesterday defiant and angry at the court.

The court had installed a soundproof cage for Morsi to stay inside during the hearing in response to the first time Morsi appeared in court and disrupted the proceedings by continually yelling at the judge and prosecutors.

The new soundproof cage was so successful at keeping order in the court that Egyptian state television declared it “the hero of today’s trial.”

Morsi was also ordered to wear regular prison apparel instead of the dark suit that he wore in the first trial.

Morsi reportedly sat angrily in his cube until his microphone was turned on and then he did nothing but question the judge.

“I am the president of this republic,” Morsi said, “and I’ve been here since 7 in the morning sitting in this dump.”

Other members of the Brotherhood on trial at the same time were placed in a separate glass cage.  Every time their microphones were turned on, all  they did was chant anti-military messages.

Egyptian Government Clears Pro-Morsi Protest Camps; Multiple Deaths

The Egyptian government moved to clear pro-Morsi protest camps on Wednesday resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

Death tolls vary but most official sources say at least 40 to 50 people have been killed in the clearing of the camps. However, the Muslim Brotherhood claims hundreds are dead across the country as camps nationwide are cleared. Security officials used tear gas and have been using armored vehicles including armored bulldozers to remove the protesters from the camps. Continue reading

Egyptian Police Ready To Clear Out Pro-Morsi Protest Camps

Multiple news outlets are reporting that Egyptian police are preparing to move on the protest camps demanding the return of Mohammed Morsi to the Egyptian presidency.

A senior security source told Reuters “state security troops will be deployed around the sit-ins.” The Associated Press said security forces would be besieging the camps within 24 hours. Continue reading

U.S. Senators Urge Egypt To Release Political Prisoners

Two U.S. senators have met with Egypt’s military backed government and urged them to release all political prisoners including former President Mohammed Morsi.

Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham called the removal of Morsi a “coup”, which the Obama administration has been refusing to do, and said that “inclusive democracy [is] the only viable path to stability.” Continue reading

Egyptian Military Chief Asks Public To Give “Mandate” To Act Against Violence

In a not so subtle message to the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s military chief has asked the public to give troops a mandate to stop “violence and terrorism.”

The move is seen both as a warning and an attempt to gain public backing for a removal of protest camps set up by the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi supporters outside military complexes and government buildings. Continue reading

Islamists Capture Egyptian Presidency

Islamists around the world celebrated as the Muslim Brotherhood claimed the Presidency in Egypt.

Mohammed Morsi received 13.2 million votes to 12.3 million for opponent Ahmed Shafiq. The powers of the Presidency are still in question as the ruling military is expected to curtail powers in the new Egyptian constitution.

In his victory speech, Morsi said he would be a president for “all of Egypt” and would not be rushing in impose Islamic Law but that conflicts with statements made to supporters. Five months ago he told a rally in Cairo that the nation’s capital would eventually be “in Jerusalem.” Continue reading