Egypt army permits 'peaceful protest' amid Morsi anger

Egypt's army has said it will guarantee the right to peaceful protest ahead of the traditional day for major rallies.

Muslim Brotherhood supporters are expected to rally on Friday after the army deposed President Mohammed Morsi.

New interim leader Adly Mahmud Mansour, the top judge of Egypt's constitutional court, has pledged to hold elections based on "the genuine people's will".

Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad said it refused to co-operate with the new regime.

Mr Morsi is in detention, as well as senior figures in the Brotherhood - the Islamist group of which the former president is a member. Hundreds more are being sought.

Early on Friday, one soldier was reported killed after Islamist militants attacked military and police checkpoints in the Sinai Peninsula with rockets and mortar fire.

Security checkpoints at al-Arish airport, near the border with Israel and the Gaza Strip, and a police station in Rafah were targeted, officials said.

Sinai has seen a series of militant attacks on security installations and oil pipelines over the past two years and it is unclear whether the latest attacks are linked to President Morsi's removal.

'Glorious revolution'

At a news conference, Mr Haddad declared "our full refusal and revoking of the military coup" and demanded Mr Morsi's immediate release, along with the other detainees.

He declared the Brotherhood's "full denial of co-operation" with the new regime and said it would take part in all "peaceful, people-led protest".

In a statement on Facebook, the army command said it would not take "arbitrary measures against any faction or political current" and would guarantee the right to protest, as long as demonstrations did not threaten national security.

"Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed to everyone, which Egyptians have earned as one of the most important gains of their glorious revolution," it said.

The upheaval in Egypt comes after days of mass rallies against Mr Morsi and the Brotherhood, who are accused of pursuing an Islamist agenda and failing to tackle Egypt's economic problems.

The army said that Mr Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, had "failed to meet the demands of the people".

Some 50 people have died since the latest unrest began on Sunday, with correspondents saying that there are continuing fears of confrontation between the pro- and anti-Morsi blocs.

-BBC