The chief of Egypt's powerful army today asked people to take to the streets on Friday to back the military and grant him a mandate to confront "terrorism", even as clashes between supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohammed Morsi claimed 12 lives.
Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in a speech broadcast live on state television, said he wanted the people to give the military a "mandate to confront violence and terrorism".
"I urge the people to take to the streets this coming Friday to prove their will and give me, the army and police, a mandate to confront possible violence and terrorism," said Sisi, who is also the Defence Minister.
He rejected rumours about divisions within the army ranks. "I swear by God that the Egyptian army is united," he said.
Supporters of Morsi have been protesting against the army intervention which removed him as president of Egypt on July 3. But Sisi said he was not calling for public violence and wanted national reconciliation.
At least 12 people were killed overnight and over 80 injured in deadly clashes across the country as pressure grew on the country's new leadership to release the Islamist leader.
The military ousted Morsi, 61, on July 3 following days of massive street protests by millions of Egyptians demanding that the Islamist president step down.
His supporters are calling for his reinstatement and insist they would not join the military-backed political process until then.
The clashes late that night saw the use of birdshot, gunfire and molotov cocktails, witnesses said. Police then intervened, firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which Morsi hails, blamed "thugs" and police for the deaths.
The family of Morsi yesterday accused the powerful military of "abducting" the Islamist leader and vowed to take legal action against the army chief. Morsi has been held at an undisclosed location, without charge, since being ousted from power on July 3.
About 100 people have died in violence since Morsi's removal.
Several countries, including the US, have called for Morsi's release.
