Supporters of Egypt’s former president Mohammed Morsi are calling for “Friday of Martyrs” protests to be held later this week. These would follow last week’s “Day of Rage” demonstrations, which saw over 60 killed in what the Washington Post described as “violence involving the security forces, protesters and armed civilians on both sides of the nation’s widening political divide.”

It is unclear whether linking tomorrow’s protests to martyrdom is intended, by the Brotherhood, to emphasize nonviolence and dialogue.

The Egyptian military’s efforts to dampen the unrest have generated substantial criticism in the West. The European Union this week cut some aid to Cairo, suspending weapons exports while maintaining humanitarian aid programs. On Tuesday Egypt’s interim prime minister brushed aside Western threats to withhold assistance, describing Egypt as heading in the “right direction.”

[Photo: MoudBarthez / Flickr]