Advertisement

Pro-Morsi Protestors In Limbo In Egypt

04:38
Download Audio
Resume
Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi pray in front of his poster in Nahda Square, where protesters have installed their camp near Cairo University in Giza, southwestern Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Aug. 12, 2013. (Amr Nabil/AP)
Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi pray in front of his poster in Nahda Square, where protesters have installed their camp near Cairo University in Giza, southwestern Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Aug. 12, 2013. (Amr Nabil/AP)

An Egyptian security official says authorities have postponed a move to disperse two sit-ins by supporters of the country's ousted president to "avoid bloodshed."

The official says the decision to postpone an advance against the protest camps by Muslim Brotherhood supporters came after a plan on ending the sit-ins was leaked to the media.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

The security forces had planned to form cordons around the Cairo protest sites as early as dawn Monday, according to officials who spoke earlier to The Associated Press.

A move by the police would have set the stage for clashes with thousands gathered at the two Cairo sit-ins in support of ex-President Mohammed Morsi, ousted in a July 3 coup.

Guest

  • Peter Kenyon, international correspondent for NPR, based in Istanbul, Turkey.

This segment aired on August 12, 2013.

Advertisement

More from Here & Now

Listen Live
Close