Egypt’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has called for nationwide protests to be held on Friday to confront what he called violence and terrorism after the removal of President Mohamed Morsi from power. Sisi stated that the rallies will give the military a mandate to confront growing instability in the country. 

Sisi also denied the accusations that he had betrayed Morsi and promised to follow the political roadmap laying the way for reform of the country’s constitution and new elections within six months. 

"I request that all Egyptians next Friday ... go down (into the street) to give me a mandate and an order to confront possible violence and terrorism," he told a military graduation ceremony in remarks broadcast live by state media.

In response, the Muslim Brotherhood published a statement on Facebook: “This is an invitation to civil war and the spilling of the people's blood in the streets." The Brotherhood denounced Sisi as head of a "military dictatorship".

Egypt’s opposition Islamist coalition made a statement at a press conference later in the day saying that Sisi should be tried for crimes against humanity for calling on Friday’s protests, which they called “irresponsible” and “an announcement of civil war.”

While some Egyptians welcomed Sisi’s announcement, many ordinary Egyptians say they are tired of constant violence and tensions which have kept the tourists away. 

Sisi’s speech was followed by an overnight bomb attack on a police station in Mansoura, killing one person and injuring two dozen. The attack highlights the urgent need for both the authorities and the Muslim Brotherhood to reach a compromise over escalating violence. 

SEE ALSO: Deadly Violence Erupts In Egypt

SEE ALSO: View From Cairo: Parties Reject President's 'Roadmap'

Reach Executive Producer Syuzanna Petrosyan here. Follow her on Twitter.