Egypt army calls for rallies Morsi supporters warn of civil war

CAIRO: Egypt's army chief called Wednesday for rallies to back a crackdown on "terrorism and violence", in comments Muslim Brotherhood denounced as a call to "civil war" ahead of their own protests.

With tensions already running high following the army's ouster of president Mohamed Morsi on July 3, the call by General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for demonstrations raises the prospect of further violence on the streets between the pro- and anti-Morsi camps.

"Next Friday, all honourable Egyptians must take to the street to give me a mandate and command to end terrorism and violence," said Sisi, wearing dark sunglasses as he took to the podium to address a graduation ceremony of military cadets near Alexandria.

A coalition of Islamists led by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood said they would press ahead with their own rallies on Friday, warning of "massacres" after Sisi's speech.

"Sisi's threats are an announcement of civil war," the group said. It warned of the danger of "massacres committed under a false popular cover."

Nearly 170 people have died in political unrest in Egypt since the end of June, according to an AFP tally, many of them in clashes between Morsi's supporters and opponents.

Sisi claimed he had been told by Morsi aides that removing the president would result in violence.

Presidential aides "told me if there is any problem there will be lots of violence because of armed groups, to scare me," Sisi said in his speech.

After he spoke, security sources said gunmen killed a soldier in a noon attack in the Sinai peninsula, where militants have carried out daily attacks on security forces since Morsi's overthrow.

Senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam al-Erian said Morsi loyalists would not be intimidated by the army chief's call for mass rallies.

"Your threat will not prevent millions from continuously protesting," Erian said in a statement on his Facebook page.

He was referring to demonstrations by Morsi's supporters which have continued non-stop since the Islamist leader was overthrown and placed in custody by the military.

Tamarod, the movement that spearheaded the mass rallies that led up to the coup, called on supporters to take to the streets again on Friday in support of the army..

"We call on the great Egyptian people to rally on Friday across Egypt to demand... Morsi's trial and to support the military in its upcoming war on terrorism," it said.