(Others) – A coalition of Islamist groups issued a statement on Tuesday condemning anti-Morsi protests outside at the presidential palace in Cairo. It accused the protesters of using violence and ‘sabotaging' the country. Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered late Tuesday at the presidential palace in Cairo's Heliopolis to denounce President Morsi's constitutional declaration and what they claim is an unrepresentative constitution. "The current divisions will be only solved through the ballot box, not through sabotaging the country and its economy," read the statement. "Expressing one's view does not mean one has to use violence and commit vandalism," the statement added. It went on to accuse opposition figures of being responsible for "these events." The coalition expressed its full support for the "legitimately elected president" and demanded that he put an end to these protests for the sake of security and stability. "Non-peaceful protests are an offense to Egypt, but Egyptians will preserve the gains of our great revolution," added the statement. Ten political parties and groups including the Muslim Brotherhood and its political wing the Freedom and Justice Party, the Salafist Nour Party, Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya and the Salafist Calling signed the statement. Egypt's interior minister released a statement late Tuesday thanking protesters for keeping their protest peaceful and for not attempting to enter the palace after the security forces had withdrawn.
