Morsi Supporters Attack Opposition Protesters
By RFE RL
(RFE/RL) — Several thousand supporters of Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi have chased protesters from a camp that they set up on a square near the presidential palace.
Clashes were reported between the two groups.
The Muslim Brotherhood movement called for a rival demonstration in support of the president, after tens of thousands gathered at the presidential palace on December 4.
They were protesting Morsi’s decree last month that gave him additional powers, and a draft constitution that they say was rushed through an Islamist-controlled assembly.
Despite the unrest of the last 24 hours, Egyptian Vice President Mahmud Mekky said that a referendum on the draft constitution will go ahead as planned on December 15.
Mekky said amendments to disputed articles of the draft constitution could be agreed with the opposition ahead of the referendum.
At a news conference in Brussels on December 5, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said dialogue was urgently needed on the constitution, which she said should respect the rights of all citizens.
