Egyptians continue protests against Sisi candidacy

Supporters of Egypt’s Anti-Coup Alliance held protests against the presidential candidacy of the former head of the armed forces Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. During the protests, the Anti-Coup Alliance called on supporters to hold demonstration across the country, press tv reported. The demonstrators called for the release of thousands of political prisoners who have been arrested since July 2013, when Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi, was ousted in a coup led by el-Sisi. Clashes also broke out between supporters and opponents of Sisi and security forces in the capital, Cairo. The protests come days ahead of the start of official presidential campaigning for Egypt’s presidential election, which is scheduled to be held next month. Leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi is the only candidate running against Sisi. Earlier this week, police fired tear gas at students protesting against the Sisi candidacy at al-Azhar University in Cairo. Sisi suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament following the July ouster of Mursi. Sisi is also accused of leading a deadly crackdown against the supporters of Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood. According to human rights groups, at least 1,400 people have been killed in the political turmoil since Mursi’s ouster, “Most of them due to excessive force used by security forces.”