Heat forces 'Rabaa festival' to halt

Organizers of a massive sit-in of backers of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in Rabaa al-Adawiya ordered a halt to the main Eid festivities due to the oppressive summer heat as temperature reached around 40 degrees Celsius. Anadolu Agency correspondent in the square reported that the number of protesters showed a sharp decline due to the heat following the Eid prayers attended by tens of thousands of Morsi's supporters. The turnout for the Eid prayers "was the biggest since the beginning of the sit-in" which started on June 28, an organizer told AA. Following the noon prayers, the square's main stage said that it would suspend work to give rest to the protesters who took to their tents for protection against the sun's rays. A limited number of protesters seemed unfazed and kept chanting in support of the deposed leader and against what they call 'a military coup' against the elected president. Tens of children also played politics by staging a march and chanting against 'coup plotters' and military chief Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. Egypt's powerful army removed Morsi from power on July 3 following mass demonstrations against his rule. Ever since, pro-Morsi demonstrators have been staging daily protests and sit-ins nationwide to demand his reinstatement.