Egypt army chief called on Wednesday for mass rallies to back a crackdown on “terrorism and violence." Muslim Brotherhood considered the move as a “threat”and announced counter-demonstrations.

Egypt army chief called on Wednesday for mass rallies to back a crackdown on “terrorism and violence." Muslim Brotherhood, in response, considered the move as a “threat”and announced counter-demonstrations.

"Next Friday, all honorable Egyptians must take to the street to give me a mandate and command to end terrorism and violence," said General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, wearing dark sunglasses as he took to the podium to address a graduation ceremony of military cadets near Alexandria.

Presidential aides "told me if there is any problem there will be lots of violence because of armed groups, to scare me," Sisi said.

With tensions already running high following the army's ouster of president Mohamed Mursi on July 3, the call by Sisi for protests raises the prospect of further violent showdowns between the pro- and anti-Mursi camps.

Later, Muslim Brotherhood issued a  statement which called for anti-rallies, the same day, under slogans that reiterate rejecting the ouster of President Mohammad Mursi and call for reinstating him.

Senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam al-Erian in a statement on his Facebook page said Mursi loyalists would not be intimidated by the army chief's call for mass rallies.

"Your threat will not prevent millions from continuously protesting," Erian said, referring to demonstrations by Mursi's supporters which have continued non-stop since the Brotherhood’s leader was pushed aside by Sisi.

Nearly 170 people have died in political unrest in Egypt since the end of June, according to an AFP tally, many of them in clashes between Mursi's supporters and opponents.