(AFP File Photo / Patrick Baz)
The Federation of Professional Unions has said it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior to clean the streets of “thugs” prior to 30 June protests.
In a press conference on Wednesday the federation described the current developments in Egypt as a “conspiracy that aims to destroy” a nation, not as an internal political struggle.
It denounced attempts by media organisations to spread rumours about policemen, calling on people not to follow these claims “which are part of the conspiracy”.
The federation also claimed some have donned police and Central Security Forces uniforms to make it appear as if security officers are killing protesters and terrorising citizens.
The union federation also called on Prosecutor General Tala’at Abdullah to reveal “details on these incidents”.
The federation represents over 16 unions and syndicates in the medical, engineering, education, and tourism sectors.
The Observatory of the Engineers Syndicate’s Independence dismissed the press conference, saying the federation shared similar “policies of the board of the [Engineers’] Syndicate… in particular, the political bias towards the Muslim Brotherhood which began since this syndicate’s board took charge.”
The observatory added that the conference violates what was agreed on in the last general assembly, to not allow the Engineers Syndicate to take any political stance.
The Federation of Professional Unions announced in the press briefing its acceptance of the constitution and laws governing political action and its opposition towards challenges against the people’s democratic legitimacy.
The press conference came amid anticipation for mass opposition protests on 30 June. The demonstrations will demand Mohamed Morsi’s removal from the presidency and early presidential elections.
“[Morsi] is a president who came to power through popular will,” one speaker said during the press conference. “How dare people call for early elections?”
Islamist parties are planning a demonstration on 21 June, one week prior to the planned opposition protests, in support of President Morsi and nonviolence.
