CAIRO (AA) – Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi staged fresh protests at Al-Azhar University on Thursday against what they describe as the July 3 "military coup" against the country's first freely-elected president.
Chanting anti-military slogans, students burned pictures of Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who is widely perceived as the chief architect of Morsi's overthrow.
Students also protested on the university's campus for women to demand the release of classmates detained by authorities during previous pro-democracy demonstrations.
Pro-democracy protests have rocked several universities throughout the country since the academic year began in September.
The most violent student protests have been seen at Al-Azhar University, where the academic year began earlier this week after having been postponed by almost one month.
Morsi was removed from power by the military this summer after massive, well-coordinated protests against his presidency that began on June 30.
The unconstitutional change of government is described by the ousted president's backers as a military coup, while supporters of the move call it a military-backed "popular uprising."
Reporting by Sobhi Mujahed
englishnews@aa.com.tr
