Cairo braces for ‘battles of the squares’

Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi today will mark the anniversary of his turbulent maiden year in office after violence at rival demonstrations killed three people, including an American.
Mursi’s opponents have called nationwide protests today to demand that he step down, sparking counter-demonstrations by the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies that have triggered often bloody clashes.
Rival demonstrators pitched their tents and prepared for the long haul.
Mursi supporters spent the night outside the Rabaa Al-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo’s Nasr City neighborhood, where tens of thousands had gathered on Friday to defend the legitimacy of Egypt’s first freely elected president.
In Tahrir Square, opponents have set the stage for what they call a “second revolution”, with dozens of tents pitched and a large stage erected ahead of today’s rallies.
Egyptian newspapers underlined the deep division in the Arab world’s most populous nation, with the independent daily Al-Tahrir describing Friday’s rallies as “Egypt against the Brotherhood” and the state-owned daily Al-Gomhuria talking of “The Battle of the Squares.”
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama said the United States is working to ensure its embassy and diplomats in Egypt are safe.
The US government was warning Americans to steer clear of Egypt if possible as violence continued unabated. Obama said the US was in direct contact with the Egyptian government about security arrangements and was planning ahead for larger protests over the weekend.
“We’re all looking at the situation there with concern,” Obama said. “Our most immediate concern with respect to protests this weekend has to do with our embassy and consulates.”
Britain has urged its citizens to “avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings,” while France calls on its nationals to “limit movements to those strict necessary.”