World Bulletin/News Desk

A leader of the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy has reiterated calls for supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi to stage fresh Friday rallies in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

"We're determined to protest in Tahrir Square," Magdi Salem, deputy leader of the Islamic Party (one of the pro-Morsi alliance's member-parties), told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

The call comes one day after the Wasat Party, also a member of the pro-Morsi bloc, called on the ousted president's supporters to steer clear of the iconic square.

At least 57 people were killed and 271 injured on Sunday after security forces clashed with pro-democracy protesters attempting to march on Tahrir.

The demonstrations coincided with national celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Egypt's October 6 military victory against Israel and the subsequent liberation of the Sinai Peninsula.

Thousands of Egyptians celebrated the war anniversary, long considered a gala day for the Egyptian army, in Tahrir Square.

Tahrir was also the epicenter of this summer's demonstrations against Morsi, who had served only one year in office when the army unseated him.

On Tuesday, the coalition called on Egyptians to descend on the square to protest democratically-elected Morsi's July 3 ouster by the military.

"Tahrir Square should not be the preserve of one specific group," Alaa Abul-Nasr, secretary-general of the Construction and Development Party – another of the pro-Morsi alliance's member-parties – told AA by phone.

He added: "We have the right to protest anywhere and at any time."