CAIRO
Supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said Friday that they would end their hours-long sit-in at eastern Cairo's Al-Alf Maskan Square, saying it had been a merely "symbolic" move.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters converged on the square from several areas of north Cairo, announcing plans to stage an "open-ended" sit-in until Morsi was reinstated.
Protesters also formed "vigilance committees" to guard the square's entrances and thwart any attempt to disperse the crowds by force.
The sit-in briefly brought traffic in the area to a standstill.
However, hours later, organizers said that the sit-in had served as a message to the "coup government" and called it a day.
"The sit-in move was symbolic; it was a message to the coup government that the Egyptian people can start new sit-ins in case the two main sit-ins (in Rabaa al-Adawiya Square in eastern Cairo and Nahda Square in Giza) are dispersed by force," an organizer told protesters from a makeshift stage.
Those who intend to sit in can join the main protest camp in Rabaa al-Adawiya, he added.
Ever since his July 3 ouster by the powerful military, supporters of the deposed president have been holding daily mass demonstrations and sit-ins nationwide to demand his reinstatement.
The two largest sit-ins have been in Rabaa al-Adawiya Square in eastern Cairo and Nahda Square in Giza.
On Wednesday, the government mandated the Interior Ministry to take "all necessary measures" to disperse Morsi supporters, who have maintained their sit-ins for over one month.
The following day, the ministry urged demonstrators to go home, promising anyone who complied with a "safe exit."
