Supporters of deposed president Moahmed Mursi and his army-backed opponents who have called rival rallies across the country took to the streets on Friday raising the specter of broader unrest.

Egyptians braced for a showdown after Friday prayers as Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the head of Egypt’s military, called for mass demonstrations Friday to support the country’s armed forces.

On the other hand, people joined thousands of Mursi supporters amid calls by the Muslim brotherhood for a million-man march under the title “bringing down the coup.”

Pro-Mursi supporters have been rallying against his overthrow and holding demonstrations since July 3.

In a related development on Friday, Egypt’s state prosecutor has ordered that ousted President Mohamed Mursi be detained for questioning over suspected cooperation with Hamas, official MENA news agency reported.

Meanwhile, UN chief Ban Ki-Moon urged the interim authorities to release Mursi and Muslim Brotherhood leaders currently in detention or have their cases reviewed transparently without delay, deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said.

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva today, the spokesperson for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay stressed that it is extremely important that security forces in Egypt do not resort to excessive use of force.

The crisis in the country escalated earlier this month, resulting in the Egyptian military deposing President Mohamed Mursi amid widespread protests in which dozens of people were killed and wounded. The Constitution was then suspended and an interim government set up.