Rival Rallies By Opponents And Supporters Of Egypt’s President Get Intensified In Cairo

Chairman of Egypt’s Judges’ Club Ahmed al-Zend (C) speaks during a press conference in Cairo, Dec. 11, 2012, four days ahead of a nationwide referendum on the new draft constitution. Ahmed al-Zend said that “90 percent of Egyptian judges refuse to supervise the referendum.” <Xinhua/STR>

Protesters climb a wall during a protest in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Thousands of opponents and supporters of Egypt’s Islamist president gathered at key locations in the nation’s capital for rival mass rallies Tuesday, four days before a nationwide referendum on a contentious draft constitution. <AP Photo/Petr David Josek>

Supporters of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans during a demonstration in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. Islamists led by Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood group have called a demonstration to back the president’s decision to hold a referendum on the new constitution on December 15. Opposition groups have rejected the constitution as undemocratic and want the vote canceled. Arabic on the poster at center reads, “yes to the constitution.”

Egyptian Army tanks, left, deploy outside the presidential palace as Egyptian protesters gather outside the presidential palace during a demonstration against President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. <AP Photo/Hassan Ammar>