Egypt's cabinet orders police to end pro-Morsi sit-ins

Egypt's military-backed government has ordered police to end sit-ins by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in the capital Cairo.

Information Minister Dorreya Sharaf el-Din said it was necessary to safeguard national security and ensure civil peace and people's safety.

Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been staging sit-ins for several weeks since President Morsi was removed on 3 July, after just one year in office.

They have defied previous threats of removal from their sit-in protests, despite deadly clashes with security forces.