Egypt's interior ministry calls on pro-Morsi protesters to end sit-ins

Egypt's interior ministry called Thursday on pro-Morsi protesters to "resort to mind" and end their sit-ins in a televised statement. "In the frame of its full commitment to its duties and keenness on the national interests, the interior ministry calls on all protesters in squares of Rabaa Al Adawiya and al-Nahda to 'resort to mind' and evacuate both squares for the sake of all people's safety," the ministry's spokesman Hany Abdel-Latif said in the statement. Abdel-Latif stressed the ministry's pledge of "safe exit" and " full protection" for those who would respond to this call. The statement came upon the cabinet's decision Wednesday that tasked the interior minister with necessary procedures to end the sit-ins and deal with any threats on national security. Information Minister Doriah Sharaf el-Din said late Wednesday that the continuation of dangerous situation at Rabaa Al Adawiya Square in Cairo and al-Nahda Square in Giza is a threat to national security and citizens. "The cabinet has decided to take all measures to confront these risks and put an end to them," Doriah said. "Terrorism and road blockages are no longer acceptable." The cabinet's decision came after people took to the streets on July 26 upon a call by Defense Minister Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi to condemn terrorism and violence and authorize the military to deal with outlaws, the statement said.