No official statement has been released by the Egyptian government over the possible dispersion of the sit-ins held by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi in Cairo and Giza, an interior ministry source told Ahram Online on Monday.
When asked about the dispersal taking place, the source said that "all options are on the table," affirming that security forces have recently intensified their presence around the sit-ins.
Earlier Sunday, media reports claimed that the dispersal is expected within 24 hours.
An official source, who spoke anonymously to AP, revealed that "action against the sit-ins ... could happen as early as daybreak Monday," adding that the police are preparing for possible clashes.
A similar statement was reported by Reuters which spoke to a senior security source who affirmed that security forces will be deployed around the sit-ins by dawn, "as a start of procedures that will eventually lead to a dispersal."
In response to the leaks, the Muslim Brotherhood called on their supporters to head to the sit-ins in Cairo and Giza immediately, reported Al-Ahram Arabic news website. The Brotherhood are reportedly expected to issue a statement shortly.
Supporters of Morsi — the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist allies — have been staging two sit-ins, at Rabaa Al-Adawiya in the Nasr City district of Cairo and Al-Nahda Square in Giza, as well as daily rallies demanding Morsi's reinstatement since his popularly-backed army ouster 3 July.
On Wednesday, Egypt's presidency issued a statement describing the Brotherhood-led sit-ins as non-peaceful. Later PM Hazem El-Beblawi said in a televised speech that the decision to disperse the pro-Morsi sit-ins is final.
