Egyptian activists are gearing up for another day of mass protest today against the ruling military council. Islamist and secular groups have called for country-wide demonstrations in the aftermath of the council’s dissolving of parliament and weakening of presidential authority last week. On Thursday, supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood gathered in Tahrir Square after former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik claimed victory in the undecided presidential runoff. One protester said the Brotherhood’s candidate, Mohamed Morsi, will be declared the winner when vote counting is complete.

Abdul Rahman Ahmed: “We have a paper from judges that Morsi is the real president. The civil organizations and the rights organizations here declare that the real president is Morsi. So we have a paper, we have evidence that Morsi is the president. So, where is the role for America? America is the state for freedom, the state for justice. So we want — we ask America to stand beside the revolutionists, to win — to win the heart of Egyptian peoples.”