Egypt postpones dispersing pro-Morsi protest camps

[August 12, 2013]  CAIRO (AP) -- An Egyptian security official says authorities have postponed a move to disperse two sit-ins by supporters of the country's ousted president to "avoid bloodshed."

The official says the decision to postpone an advance against the protest camps by Muslim Brotherhood supporters came after a plan on ending the sit-ins was leaked to the media.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

The security forces had planned to form cordons around the Cairo protest sites as early as dawn Monday, according to officials who spoke earlier to The Associated Press.

A move by the police would have set the stage for clashes with thousands gathered at the two Cairo sit-ins in support of ex-President Mohammed Morsi, ousted in a July 3 coup.

[Associated Press; By MAGGIE MICHAEL]

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