Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi observed Friday prayers at Quds Mosque in New Cairo, the upscale suburb where he lives, listening to a sermon by the imam on 'hypocrites and haters of Islam.'
On Friday, protests were being held in Cairo and Alexandria in support of the 'Rebel' campaign, which seeks to collect signatures supporting a vote of no-confidence in Morsi and to push for early presidential elections.
Another Friday sermon triggered scuffles between supporters and opponents of Morsi outside Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque in Cairo's Mohandeseen district.
Following the afternoon prayers, some opponent of Morsi were enraged when the mosque's preacher offered a prayer in support of the Islamist president. Opposing chants from both sides were heard soon after, leading to brief spats between the two groups.
Anti-Morsi protesters were gathered on Friday afternoon outside the mosque to join in a march heading to Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo as part of a planned mass rally supporting the ‘Rebel’ campaign.
Since Morsi's inauguration, he has attended Friday prayers in a number of public mosques around Egypt.
