Pro-democracy rallies to be held in Egypt on Friday

The National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, a coalition of largely Islamist groups that support ousted president Mohamed Morsi, has called for fresh mass rallies on Friday. Pro-democracy demonstrators have been holding daily mass protests across the country for the last 85 days to denounce the July 3 military overthrow of the Islamist leader, which they describe as a "military coup" against an elected president. “This week’s rallies (to be held under the banner “Youth are pillars of revolution) coincide with the return of students to schools and universities, and we call on them to join the peaceful protests to end the coup,” the pro-democracy bloc said in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by Anadolu Agency. Egyptian students are set to return to school and universities on Saturday. The coalition described the youth as “the spirit and pillar of the revolution." “They have made sacrifices for the welfare and freedom of the homeland and will continue to do so until they bear the fruits of their revolution,” it added. Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, was deposed by the military on July 3 after mass protests against his administration. The unconstitutional change of government is described by the ousted president's backers as a "military coup," while the move's supporters call it a military-backed "popular uprising."