Thousands of Egyptians Protest Military Government

Security crackdowns appear to unite the opposition

Tens of thousands of protesters and Muslim Brotherhood supporters rallied Friday throughout Egypt against a military coup and a bloody security crackdown, though tanks and armored police vehicles barred them from converging in major squares.

The protests appeared smaller than the mass demonstrations seen in previous weeks, despite a massive push by the Brotherhood for "decisive" rallies across the country after Friday prayers.

The largest protest in the capital, Cairo, had more than 10,000 protesters. Thousands gathered in other cities, with other smaller protests drawing hundreds, including many women and children.