Anti-coup protesters march on Cairo demanding Morsi's reinstatement

Photo by Mohamed Hossam/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The Associated Press reported thousands of supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi gathered in a southern district of Cairo Friday to call for the resignation of military leader Abdel-Fattah el Sisi and the reinstatement of Morsi to the presidency.

Since the military coup in July, Morsi supporters have held almost daily protests, but their numbers have dwindled as Egyptian military and security forces have cracked down on demonstrations. According to the AP report, 2,000 Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been jailed since the coups and hundreds of protesters have been killed.

In order to smooth over strained U.S.-Egypt relations, The Washington Post reported Friday that the Egyptian junta hired Washington lobbying firm Glover Park Group at the hefty price of $250,000 a month for "public diplomacy and strategic communications counsel."

The Obama administration canceled joint military exercises and halted shipments of tanks and helicopters since the Egyptian troops began using violent force against protesters.