Thousands of Egyptian Islamists gathered Friday outside the Supreme Courthouse in downtown Cairo in a huge demonstration dubbed "Purging the Judiciary," Xinhua reporter witnessed outside the courthouse.

The protests are held by Islamists, the main supporters of President Mohamed Morsi, against what they describe as "corrupt judiciary," due to the recent acquittals of ex-officials who belonged to former President Hosni Mubarak as well as the "slow- pace" trial of Mubarak.

"The massive protest is smooth and peaceful so far, while anti- judiciary Islamists are waving flags of Egypt, raising signs and shouting slogans in microphones against the judiciary and calling for revolutionary trials of Mubarak and his men," Xinhua reporter said.

The protesters, mostly Islamists, raised signs reading "The public demand purging judiciary and media," "The people demand sacking justice minister," "No for politicizing the judiciary," and others accusing judiciary of corruption and bias.

The protesters also urged for a new judicial authority law to be issued by the Shura Council, which is currently taking over the legislation authority in the state.

The Muslim Brotherhood group and its political arm Freedom and Justice Party, Al-Gamaa al-Islamiya group and its Construction and Development Party, the Salafist Al-Asala Party, the moderate Islamist Al-Wasat Party and other Islamist-oriented parties and groups took part in the demonstrations.

However, some other Islamist parties like Al-Watan and Al-Nour rejected the demonstration as an attempt to eliminate the independence of judiciary.

The country's main opposition parties and groups, mostly liberals and leftists like Al-Dostour Party, Al-Wafd Party, Free Egyptian Party, Al-Karama Party, April 6 Youth Movement and Revolutionary Youth Union condemned the protests as "a fierce attack" against judiciary and an Islamist attempt to control the judicial authority.

Meanwhile, dozens of masked men in black set fire to a bus near Tahrir Square belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood protestors and headed towards a street leading to the main Islamist protests outside the supreme court, an eyewitness told Xinhua. Endi

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