Morsi supporters on march in Cairo after military holds back

Islamist supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi today began marching to demand his reinstatement after the military-led authorities which ousted him held off from carrying out a threat to clear protest sit-ins.

Thousands converged on a Muslim Brotherhood protest camp in north-eastern Cairo in a festive atmosphere to attend prayers and a rally on the first day of the Eid holiday. Interim President Adly Mansour declared yesterday that international diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis had failed and the government warned protesters to leave their camps, saying the decision to remove them was final.

But a diplomat involved in the negotiations said the authorities and supporters of Mr Morsi might yet implement mutual confidence building steps that could lead to a settlement. A military source said the authorities held back from using force to clear the camps partly due to fear that liberal vice president Mohamed ElBaradei would resign.