Morsi's whereabouts still a mystery

The whereabouts of Egypt's ousted president Mohammad Morsi is still a mystery, amid international calls for his release. Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, was removed from power on July 3, under an army roadmap for the future of the country after mass protests against his regime. He has not been seen in public since then. Supporters believe that the deposed president is being held at the Republican Guards headquarters. Morsi had moved to the Republican Guards compound from the Ittihadiya palace two days before mass protests calling for his ouster. More than 50 pro-Morsi loyalists were killed last week outside the compound. While the Muslim Brotherhood accused security forces of attacking the protestors, the army said a terrorist group had tried to storm the building. Speculations refer that Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, is being held at the army Olympic center in El-Tagamoa El-Khamis (Fifth settlement) in New Cairo. Other speculations refer that the toppled president is being detained at a military base near the canal city of Ismailia. Egyptian foreign minister Mohamed Kamel Amr has said that Morsi is in a "safe place" and is well treated. A security source has told Anadolu Agency that Morsi is in custody until being questioned on charges of escaping from prison with the help of the Palestinian group Hamas. The United States called Friday for the release of the deposed president. US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said they agreed with Germany's call for release of Morsi. "We've expressed concerns from the beginning about his arrest, about the politically motivated arbitrary arrests of the Muslim Brotherhood members," she noted. National Salvation Front opposition Mohamed Abul-Ghar also called for Morsi's release to help ease tension in Egypt. "A solution to the current crisis could be through Morsi's return to his home if he is not sought for justice as a gesture of reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, let alone releasing all detainees," he said. Thousands of Morsi's supporters are camping in the streets to demand his return to power.