Egyptian Islamists defend president's legitimacy ahead of opponents' protests

Thousands of Egyptian Islamists flocked Friday to Rabaa al-Adawweya Square in Cairo's Nasr City for a rally in support of the legitimacy of Islamist-oriented President Mohamed Morsi. The rally was staged by over 30 Islamist parties ahead of the opposition's planned anti-Morsi protests slated for June 30, the first anniversary of Morsi's rule. Vowing that they will not allow "coup against legitimacy," referring to Morsi as a "legitimate, freely-elected" president, members of Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, al- Jamaa al-Islamiya's Construction and Development Party, and Salafist Wattan Party spearheaded the Friday gathering. The demonstrators also announced an open-ended sit-in in preparation for another rally on June 30 to support Morsi against the anti-president demonstrations arranged by liberals on the same day. "Raise your voice, don't fear, no rule for a liberal," "Egypt is Islamist," "O liberals, you won't rule Egypt anymore," shouted the demonstrators. Meanwhile, hundreds of liberal protesters, headed by Tamarrud Campaign, Popular Current, April 6 Movement and others, flocked to the Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo on Friday, urging Morsi to leave. On Wednesday, the embattled president delivered a speech to mark his first year in office. Although he admitted to have made some mistakes since he was elected last June, his words failed to appease his opponents and were described by observers as " defensive." Egypt's main opposition bloc, the National Salvation Front, said the speech meant that Morsi "doesn't take the opposition seriously," pressing him to hold an early presidential election.