AFP/Cairo

Tens of thousands of Islamists poured onto Egypt’s streets yesterday demanding the reinstatement of ousted president Mohamed Mursi, despite warnings by the military of a crackdown on violent protests.

The rallies come a day after Mursi’s army-installed successor Adly Mansour vowed to fight for stability against opponents he accused of wanting to plunge the crisis-hit country “into the unknown”.

A vast crowd gathered at Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, where Mursi’s supporters have camped out since the military overthrew him on July 3.

About 10,000 protesters then set off in the direction of an elite military compound, scene of the deadliest violence since Mursi’s overthrow, carrying pictures of the deposed president and chanting slogans.

But they were blocked by soldiers and armoured vehicles.

“Islamic, Islamic,” they shouted, of their hopes for an Islamic state, as fighter jets flew overhead and military helicopters whirled in the sky.

“I believe Mursi will return as president, God willing. The people will win in the end,” said a man who gave his name as Mohamed, 45.

Smaller rallies took off elsewhere in Cairo, second city Alexandria, and other parts of Egypt after Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood had called for a day of protests dubbed “Breaking the Coup”.

On the eve of the demonstrations, Mansour pledged to rein in those who wanted to push Egypt “into the unknown”.

“We will fight the battle for security to the end. We will preserve the revolution,” he said, in comments echoed by the army.

Although mostly peaceful, the pro-Mursi protests have resulted in deadly clashes, with the unrest claiming more than 100 lives in all, according to an AFP tally.

In the worst bloodshed, at least 53 people were killed outside the Cairo headquarters of the Republican Guard on July 8, mostly Mursi supporters.

The Brotherhood accuses the army of committing a “massacre” at the site, while the military says it was responding to a “terrorist” attack.

The military had warned on Thursday it would decisively confront any violence in the protests.

“Whoever resorts to violence in Friday’s protests will endanger his life, and will be treated with utmost decisiveness, within legal bounds,” it said on Facebook.

Thousands of supporters of the military’s overthrow of Mursi gathered in a rival rally in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, setting off firecrackers and chanting: “The army and the people are one.”

Their demonstrations have been far smaller since the mass rallies clamouring for Mursi’s resignation in the days leading to the coup.

In his speech, Mansour offered an olive branch to the Brotherhood, saying: “The framework of justice and reconciliation extends to all.”

The movement has categorically refused to recognise Mansour’s caretaker government, which was sworn in this week but with Islamist parties and movements totally absent.

Instead the Brotherhood is placing its hopes in sustained protests it believes may reverse the coup.

Thousands of Islamists have been camped out around Rabaa al-Adawiya, where they have vowed to remain until their goal is achieved, despite the growing anger of residents.

“We began our protest on June 28 and we will continue until Dr Mursi is reinstated,” said one demonstrator yesterday.

In the restive Sinai Peninsula, gunmen wounded a soldier in a drive-by shooting at a military checkpoint in the town of El Arish, security officials said.

The peninsula has witnessed a surge in violence in the past two weeks.