CAIRO
An alliance of largely Islamist groups that support ousted president Mohamed Morsi has called on supporters to converge on Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday to mark the 40th anniversary of a military victory over Israel.
"We renew calls for all Egyptians to protest nationwide and gather in Tahrir Square on Sunday to celebrate the victorious army," the pro-democracy bloc said in a Friday statement.
"The Tahrir Square and the October victory are owned by all Egyptians and we will not accept to be prevented from celebrating the victory and continue our revolution."
Tahrir Square, the epicenter of a 2011 uprising that ousted long-serving president Hosni Mubarak, has been a no-go area for Morsi supporters since June 28.
Scores of pro-democracy demonstrators, however, managed to gather in the iconic square on Tuesday before being dispersed by opponents.
On Friday, policemen fired teargas to disperse crowds of pro-democracy demonstrators trying to enter the Tahrir Square.
Egyptian authorities have decided to close down Tahrir Square and the vicinity of the presidential Etihadiya Palace, east of Cairo, until Monday, according to the official Middle East News Agency.
MENA quoted an unnamed security source as attributing the decision to "the ceremonies scheduled to take place… on the occasion of the anniversary of the October 6 War" against Israel.
The report did not specify as to whether the closures would apply to vehicle traffic alone or to pedestrians as well.
Reporting by Hussein Qabani
englishnews@aa.com.tr
