REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CAIRO - The family of Egypt's ousted president lashed out at the military on Monday, accusing the generals of kidnapping Mohammed Mursi, who has been detained incommunicado in an unknown location for nearly three weeks.

The statement by Mursi's family at a Cairo press conference underlined the unknown fate of Egypt's first freely elected president. Mursi has not been seen and has had no known contact with lawyers, family or supporters since the military ousted him on July 3 after mass protests nationwide demanding his removal.

At Monday's press conference, Mursi's daughter Shaimaa read out a statement by the family, saying, "We hold the leaders of the bloody military coup fully responsible for the safety and security of the president."

One of Mursi's sons, Osama, described his father's detention as the "embodiment of the abduction of popular will and a whole nation," and said the family will "take all legal actions" to end his detention.

"What happened is a crime of kidnapping," said Osama, who is a lawyer. "I can't find any legal means to have access to him."

He said that the family met with Mursi for the last time on July 3, shortly before military chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi announced the president's ouster. Since then, they have had no contact with him.

Since his ouster, the leader has become a tool for both sides. The new military-backed government has used Mursi to put pressure on his Muslim Brotherhood, launching criminal investigations without actually bringing charges against him. Government officials have said only that he is safe, is well cared for and is being held for his own protection.

The Brotherhood, in turn, has sought to drum up sympathy by saying Mursi's detention shows the military's coup is taking the country into dictatorship, as it tries to expand street protests demanding he be reinstated as president.

New violence erupted around protests by Mursi supporters demanding his reinstatement, killing at least four people. Pro-Mursi protesters marched near Cairo's Tahrir Square, battled with Mursi opponents camped out in the square, trading stones and gunfire, while further clashes erupted in a city north of Cairo.

European Union foreign ministers on Monday called for the release of Morsi and "all political detainees," saying it was among their key priorities for Egypt's new leadership. The United States has also urged Morsi's release. Along with Morsi, at least five other senior Brotherhood figures are in detention.

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