Thousands hold anti-gov't protests in Egypt

CAIRO - Thousands of Egyptians held nationwide anti-government protests Friday, demanding sacking the government and dissolving the Muslim Brotherhood, to which President Mohamed Morsi is affiliated.

Protesters outside the presidential palace raised banners saying "leave and take your movement with you," in reference to the president and the Muslim Brotherhood.

More protesters flocked to Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square and asked for toppling the government, trying its leaders and sacking the prosecutor general, along with releasing all political detainees, official news agency MENA reported.

Outside Egyptian High Court of Justice in downtown Cairo, thousands of protesters chanted slogans of "Leave, leave" and " Down, down with rule by the guide," referring to the Muslim Brotherhood's leader Mohamed Badie.

The security forces have intensified their presence in areas surrounding the building, and the protests are being filmed to identify outlaws in case clashes erupt between protesters and security men, a security official was quoted by Ahram as saying.

Among the participating groups are the Free Front for Peaceful Change, Coalition of Revolutionary Powers, Revolution Youth Union and the April 6 Youth Movement (Democratic Front), the report added.

On Wednesday, more than 24 parties and political movements called for mass protests across the country in a press statement, which asserted that "in a modern civil national state, no one is above the law, and no room for misusing power or manipulating the people's destiny is existing."