Violence was Egypt's only solution, protest leader says

Mahmoud Badr, whose petition campaign helped to bring down Egypt's Islamist president, insists the bloodshed that has followed was necessary to save the nation from the Muslim Brotherhood.

And he has a message for US President Barack Obama, who has expressed alarm at the violent crackdown on the Brotherhood that has led to more than 700 deaths: "Don't lecture us on how to deal with the Brotherhood's terrorism."

As for aid money, he says, Obama can keep it - and "go to hell". Washington provides US$1.3 billion in military aid and about US$250 million in economic aid to Egypt every year.

Badr, like many Egyptians who consider themselves liberals, has little patience with the rights groups who call the repression a setback for democracy.

"What Egypt is passing through now is the price, a high price, of getting rid of the Brotherhood's fascist group before it takes over everything and ousts us all," said Badr, 28.

Badr and his two young co-founders of the "Tamarud-Rebel" movement encouraged millions of Egyptians to take to the streets on June 30 in protests demanding the overthrow of president Mohammed Mursi.

Tamarud's protests led the army to remove Mursi on July 3, and nationwide violence erupted this week after security forces cracked down on supporters demanding his reinstatement.