[Al Ahram] A number of rallies in support of ousted president Mohammed Morsi...the former president of Egypt. A proponent of the
One Man, One Vote, One Timeprinciple, Morsi won election after the deposal of Hosni Mubarak and jumped to the conclusion it was his turn to be dictator...
were dispersed by security forces on Friday.
In the capital, security forces fired teargas to disperse protests in the distrcits of Haram and Mohandiseen.
In Alexandria, three rallies organised after Friday prayers were also dispersed.
In Fayoum in Upper Egypt, a police officer was injured during festivities between security forces and pro-Morsi protesters during a dispersal of a rally after Friday prayers in the city, reported Al-Ahram's Arabic website. The police officer was reportedly hit by a rock hurled by pro-Morsi protesters.
In Minya in Upper Egypt, security forces locked away
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
nine Morsi supporters for organising unauthorised protests on Friday afternoon in the city.
Under a new law passed last week, protest organisers must notify police at least three days in advance of any protest. Police have the power to forbid the demonstration from taking place, and any violation of the law may be punished with fines or jail sentences.
In Upper Egypt's Beni Suef, Morsi supporters held rallies in several cities and towns, but the demos were not dispersed by police. Security forces secured governmental buildings and churches but did not move to disperse the rallies.
In Al-Arish, the capital of North Sinai governorate, a pro-Morsi rally which started at the city's Al-Rafai mosque made its way through several neighbourhoods before security forces fired teargas at demonstrators. Protest organisers cancelled the protest after security forces started targeting the rally.
In Menoufiya governorate in the Nile Delta, security forces arrested 12 Morsi supporters while they were participating in a rally in the city of Shabin El-Kom.
In Gharbiya governorate, also in the Delta, protesters tried to organise a cycle of violence rally in the city of Zafta but were dispersed after attacks by angry local residents.
The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy, a pro-Morsi coalition led by Morsi's Moslem Brüderbund, had called for the protests.
Most of the rallies made demands for the release of pro-Morsi protesters who have been jugged
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
in recent months, particularly the 21 women from Alexandria who were sentenced last week to 11 years in jail for protest-related charges.
The protesters also demanded retribution for those Morsi supporters killed in violence with security forces in past months, as well the reinstatement of president Morsi, who was ousted in July.