Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Thursday defiantly called for a "stand" against the ouster of president Mohammad Mursi, ramping up tension on the eve of rival rallies called by the army and Islamists.

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Thursday defiantly called for a "stand" against the ouster of president Mohammad Mursi, ramping up tension on the eve of rival rallies called by the army and Islamists.

The fugitive leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohammad Badei, whom the public prosecutor requested his arrest, urged Egyptians to peacefully make a "stand for freedom and legitimacy, and against the bloody coup," in a Thursday statement.

Badei further described "the ouster of President Mohammad Mursi as more offensive than demolishing the Kaaba."

Egypt's military insisted Thursday that Islamists were not being targeted by its chief's call for an anti-terrorism rally, which the ousted Muslim Brotherhood has denounced as "a declaration of civil war."

"General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's call was not a threat to any political group in particular," the military spokesman said in a statement.

The country's top defense council, chaired by interim president Adly Mansour, vowed meanwhile "to chase and bring to justice all who threaten public safety."

Police said they were planning large scale reinforcements to secure Friday's rallies, amid fears they will turn into a massive showdown in the streets between Mursi's supporters and opponents.