Digging In For The Showdown

The plan, the world heard, was right after Ramadan, and the evacuation of the international vetters in Cairo the Egyptian authorities would be prepared to move in and disperse the two major sit-ins by those doggedly determined supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and Mohammed Morsi. With bated breath, the news media and the suspense-filled world looked on. Nothing. Not yet, in any event. It will happen. It is destined to occur.

Seems reasonable that protesters, on hearing of the government's intended plan would decide to remove themselves to forestall the eventuality of a conflicting situation which would surely leave casualties in its wake. Rather, the announcement appears to have had the opposite effect; the crowds are swelling in their numbers. And, at the same time, a judge has extended by 15 days Mohammed Morsi's detention.

Vendors have sold hundreds of gas masks, goggles and gloves to protesters prepared to withstand police tear gas. Three waist-tall barriers of concrete and wood have been built to protect the protesters against armoured vehicle. Really. Very useful as fortifications. The four-day Muslim Eid celebrations are over, ending the holy month of Ramadan. Cordons were supposed to have been set up around the protest sites.

Measures would be gradual, in evacuating the public space taken by the sit-ins. Water cannons and tear gas would be used in an effort to minimize casualties. Police are coordinating with the Health Ministry for ambulances to be stationed nearby for the wounded, and armoured police carriers will be stationed nearby as well to remove those who will be arrested.

Four houses and a church were torched in the Diabeya village in Upper Egypt's Beni Suef governerate on Sunday with 15 left wounded as a result of clashes there. A confrontation had ensued between the Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya Islamist group and a Coptic Christian village resident who had tried to construct a traffic bump on the road in front of his home. That brought Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya members out to fight against Coptic residents, but they deny religion had anything to do with it.

Which defied the joint statement issued by a coalition of 16 human rights groups expressing their "grave concern regarding the increasing sectarian violence that has targeted Christians and their churches since the 30 June uprising." In villages in Upper Egypt's Luxor, Sohag and Minya areas conflict has broken out. A Coptic priest was shot to death in North Sinai in early July.
And late last week Naglaa Morsi, wife of Mohammed Morsi surprised everyone with an appearance at a rally supporting her husband. "He is coming back, if Allah wills it", she declared. To which Morsi supporters chanted back at her: "Returning! Returning!" She hasn't been seen in public since her husband was arrested. There were rumours she had also been held in custody. Their children appeared at the rally as well, calling for their father's release from prison.

On the weekend, al-Azhar's grand imam invited prominent authorities to attend a meeting on national reconciliation for Monday, to discuss his "compromise formula". The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party declared itself to be prepared for "any kind of dialogue with any intermediary". Still they questioned Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib's impartiality; he had, after all supported the military in removing Mr. Morsi.

Co-operation, conciliation? Interim President Adly Mansour last week put the blame squarely on the Muslim Brotherhood for the failure of mediation efforts that had been undertaken by international diplomats. And doubtless he knows full well of what he speaks.