CAIRO, June 21: Tens of thousands of Islamist supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gathered in Cairo after Friday prayers to show support for the elected head of state before protests that his opponents hope can force him from office.

Crowds converged on a mosque in the suburb of Nasr City, many waving the national flag, some carrying pictures of the president, in what is intended to demonstrate the Islamists’ strength of numbers ahead of the opposition rallies set for June 30, the first anniversary of Mr Morsi’s inauguration.

“Yes to respecting the will of the people!” read some banners.

“There are people seeking a coup against the lawful order,” said demonstrator Gaber Nader, 22, his head protected from the burning sun by a green banner from Mr Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, the movement whose organisational strength has won it successive elections since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

“Dr Morsi won in free and fair elections like in any state in the world,” Mr Nader said, shrugging off concerns among the less well organised opposition that the Brotherhood is aiming for a monopoly of power and to install Islamic rule and social order.

“Secular parties are eating the democracy God gave them.”

Mr Morsi’s opponents say they have gathered about 15 million signatures – more than the 13 million votes that elected Mr Morsi a year ago – on a petition calling on him to step down; they say new elections could end the paralysing polarisation of society, though no obvious leader has emerged to build consensus.

Mr Morsi’s opponents have attracted support from many Egyptians who are less politically engaged but exasperated by economic stagnation under the Islamists.—Reuters