Al-Qaida-linked group urges Egyptian students to continue protests

CAIRO – An al-Qaida-inspired group based in Sinai is urging Egyptian students who support the ousted Islamist president to continue their protests against the new military-backed government.

The statement by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis is uncommon for a jihadi, al-Qaida-inspired militant group. Most hard-liners have derided Mohammed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and its allies for choosing demonstrations and elections over taking up arms.

The message from the group, whose name is Arabic for the "Partisans of Jerusalem," was posted on a militant website Saturday.

The group has claimed responsibility for attacks including last month's killing of a senior security officer, saying it was retaliation for the arrest of female Morsi supporters.

Morsi's supporters have kept up protests since the July 3 coup, which followed demonstrations by millions calling for him to leave office.