25/01/2014 09:15
Egypt tense on third anniversary of revolution
Rival political groups in Egypt are to mark the third anniversary of the 2011 uprising which ended in the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, the BBC said.
Both supporters of the military-backed government and the Muslim Brotherhood are set to take to the streets.
The anniversary comes as tensions were heightened by a series of bombs in Cairo and clashes across the country which left at least 18 people dead.
The government has said extra security measures are in place for Saturday.
"We have a plan to secure all of this for the anniversary of the 25 January revolution," Egyptian Interior Minister Muhammad Ibrahim said.
He urged Egyptians not to be afraid to go to events marking the anniversary. However, earlier this week he warned supporters of the Brotherhood that any attempt to "disrupt" festivities will be dealt with "firmly."
The Brotherhood has held regular protests since the military, led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last July.
The Anti-Coup Alliance, led by Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, called in a statement for 18 days of protests beginning on Saturday, mirroring the 18 days of protests that led to Mr Mubarak stepping down in 2011.
The Brotherhood has been declared a "terrorist organisation" and accused by the interim government of being behind a string of violent attacks in recent months, which the Brotherhood denies.
Mr Morsi, Egypt's first ever democratically elected president, was removed after mass protests. Many now expect Gen Sisi to run for president, putting a military strongman back in charge in Egypt, as was the case for the six decades leading up to 2011.