Qatar-based cleric urges protests in Egypt on uprising's anniversary

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi hold a copy of the Koran and Mursi's picture at Talaat Harb Square, in Cairo, January 25, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

DOHA (Reuters) - A Qatar-based Muslim cleric called for protests in Egypt on the anniversary of the country's Jan 25 uprising against Hosni Mubarak and said Mohamed Mursi is Egypt's "legitimate" leader, in a speech that may worsen relations between Qatar and Egypt.

Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian-born cleric who has close links to the Muslim Brotherhood, has been critical of Egypt's military-backed government, accusing President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi of betrayal for ousting President Mursi in 2013, a Muslim Brotherhood leader.