Supporters,opponents of Morsi hold rallies in Egypt

Supporters and opponents of Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi held rallies Tuesday in the capital Cairo and other parts of the country, reflecting a division among the nation. Thousands of Morsi's supporters, mainly Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist Islamists, rallied outside Rabia al-Adawiya Mosque at Nasr City in Cairo, raising signs and chanting slogans in support of Morsi's recent constitutional declaration and the upcoming constitutional referendum slated for Dec. 15. Safaa al-Sayed, a 31-year-old female pro-Morsi protester outside the mosque, told Xinhua that she participated the rally to support Morsi and the draft constitution. Aisha Ali, an 18-year-old veiled woman, told Xinhua that she did not belong to the Muslim Brotherhood or Salafists. "The opponents protest against everything the president does, and they want us to return to the zero point," she complained. On the same day, opponents marched towards the presidential palace in Cairo, raising flags of Egypt and signs reading "No for the constitution," "No for Morsi" and "No for the Brotherhood rule. " Although most roads and streets to the palace were blocked by cement walls or barbed wires, thousands of anti-Morsi protesters gathered outside the palace, posing challenge to presidential guards and security staff. "We are here to say 'No' to Morsi and his group the Muslim Brotherhood who want to control the country's institutions and dominate power," said Hossam Mamdouh, 23, one of the protesters outside the presidential palace. Egypt is set to hold a referendum on the controversial draft constitution on Saturday, despite the opposition's call for a nationwide protest. Morsi has given the army the power to arrest civilians, calling them to help the police maintain the security of the referendum.