Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt, in wake of the military’s coup, could be plunged into
civil war.

Western diplomatic sources said the military overthrow of Egypt’s first
Islamist president would not reduce the bloodshed in the country. They said
the fallen Muslim Brotherhood movement could unleash millions of supporters
to attack the pro-democracy and security forces.

“The Brotherhood is not going home quietly, that’s for sure,” a diplomat based in Cairo said.

Already, Brotherhood fighters have been battling anti-Morsi forces around Egypt. Since July 3, at least 20 people were killed in clashes in Alexandria, Cairo and other cities.

On July 4, Morsi was formally replaced by the head of the nation’s constitutional court, Adli Mansour. In his acceptance speech, Mansour thanked the military.

“Recent events in Egypt are historic and what Egyptian people did, should be a model to be followed by others,” former Egyptian Chief of Staff Gen. Sami Anan, who resigned as Morsi’s adviser days before the coup, said.

The sources said the Brotherhood could receive foreign help to regain
power in Egypt and cited statements by Al Qaida and Salafist groups in such
countries as Libya and Tunisia.

For its part, Al Qaida has threatened to send thousands of fighters to
battle Egypt’s military. Al Qaida commander in Egypt, Mohammed Zawahiri, the
brother of the movement’s chief, issued a statement that warned of a
campaign against any regime that replaced the Brotherhood.

The Salafist movement has raised the prospect that the coup could spark
civil war in Egypt. The largest Salafist political group, Salafit Dawa,
urged the Brotherhood to suspend street protests and form a coalition with
other Islamist movements.

“We urge the sons of the Islamic movement to properly assess the
situation and understand the political changes,” Salafii Dawa said on July
4.

On July 5, the Brotherhood, whose leaders have not threatened an armed
campaign, was scheduled to launch a massive protest campaign in Cairo and
other major Egyptian cities. The diplomats said the rallies would mark a
show of force that could determine whether Egypt slides into the chaos seen
in neighboring Libya and Tunisia.

“The Brotherhood in Egypt remains a massive organization, and has a
range of options in destabilizing any post-Morsi regime,” the diplomat said.
“Over the next few days, we might see some of those options.”

  Adli Mansour, Gen. Sami Anan, Mohammed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood ‘not going home quietly’: Al Qaida threatens to send fighters to Egypt, Salafit Dawa