Egypt expected to act against pro-Mursi protesters in 24hrs

Egyptian security forces are expected to start taking action early Monday against supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi who are gathered in sit-ins across Cairo, security sources said Sunday.

Police officers said will besiege sit-ins supporting the ousted president within 24 hours, the Associated Press reported.

The camps located at Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda Square witnessed confrontations between the Army, which toppled Mursi last month, and supporters who demand his reinstatement.

“State security troops will be deployed around the sit-ins by dawn as a start of procedures that will eventually lead to dispersal,” a senior security source told Reuters, adding that the first step will be to surround the camps.

Another security source said the decision to take action, just after celebrations following the holy month of Ramadan, came after a meeting between the interior minister and his aides.

Egyptian authorities have been urged by several Western and Arab mediators not to forcibly disperse the protesters, who at times can number as much as tens of thousands.