Islamist verbally attacks army chief

CAIRO (AP):

The Muslim Brotherhood's leader made an unusually harsh attack on Egypt's military chief on Thursday, saying his ouster of President Mohammed Morsi was worse than destroying the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine.

The analogy appeared aimed at whipping up religious sentiments on the eve of mass rallies promoted by Gen Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi as a show of support for planned action by the military and the police to stop "violence and terrorism" by Morsi's mainly Islamist supporters.

Divisions between the two sides grew even more entrenched as the youth group behind the wave of protests that led to the July 3 military coup against Morsi threw its support behind the military, urging Egyptians to participate in Friday's demonstrations.

"Whoever wants to genuinely complete the revolution must be out in the squares and in all the provinces," said Mahmoud Badr, spokesman for Tamarod, or Rebel in Arabic.