Egypt clashes after army fire kills Morsi supporters
6 July BBC
Twelve people have died in Alexandria and three in Cairo in clashes
between supporters and opponents of the ousted President Mohammed Morsi,
reports say.The violence came after three pro-Morsi demonstrators were
killed by security forces in another part of the capital.
Troops later restored calm in Cairo, but nationwide violence left
some 26 dead and 318 injured, officials said.The army removed Mr Morsi
from power on Wednesday after millions of people protested over his
leadership.Mr Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, is in
detention, as are some senior figures in the Brotherhood: early on
Saturday, state media reported the Brotherhood's deputy leader Khairat
el-Shater had been arrested at his Cairo home on suspicion of incitement
to violence.
The Tamarod [Rebel] movement which organised recent anti-Morsi
protests accused the ousted president of pursuing an Islamist agenda
against the wishes most Egyptians, and of failing to tackle economic
problems.
Most of those killed during fighting in the Mediterranean city of
Alexandria, died from gunshot wounds, said Amr Nasr, head of emergency
services in the city.
He told the official Mena news agency that 200 people were injured
during clashes in Egypt's second-largest city.Earlier, after midday
Prayers, Islamist supporters of Mr Morsi staged a series of marches
across Cairo including outside Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque where tens of
thousands massed.Tensions escalated when a crowd advanced on the nearby
headquarters of the Republican Guard, where Mr Morsi is believed to be
held.Troops then opened fire on crowds.
Three people were killed and dozens wounded, including the BBC's
Jeremy Bowen whose head was grazed by shotgun pellets.In the evening,
tens of thousands of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to whom Mr
Morsi belongs filled the square near the mosque, as well as nearby
streets.
The Brotherhood's supreme leader, Mohammed Badie, told the crowd: “We
shall stay in the squares until we bring President Morsi back to
power.He said their protests would remain peaceful and called on the
army not to “direct your arms against us”.
Shortly afterwards, Brotherhood supporters surged across the 6th
October Bridge over the Nile river, towards Tahrir Square where
anti-Morsi protesters were gathered.The rival groups hurled fireworks
and stones at each other. A car was set on fire and stones and fireworks
were thrown.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Cairo says there is anger and passion on
both sides as well as a determination to win a battle for the streets
which is making the capital a dangerous and volatile place.Late on
Friday, tanks arrived at the bridge to separate the clashing protesters
and the violence died down.There were clashes in other parts of Egypt on
Friday.In Qina in the south, troops opened fire on pro-Morsi activists
trying to storm a security building.
At least two people were injured.Firing was also reported in the
canal city of Ismailiya.Ahead of Friday's protests, the army command
said it would not take “arbitrary measures against any faction or
political current” and would guarantee the right to protest, as long as
demonstrations did not threaten national security.
“Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed to
everyone, which Egyptians have earned as one of the most important gains
of their glorious revolution,” it said.On Thursday the head of Egypt's
constitutional court, Adly Mahmud Mansour, was sworn in as interim head
of state, and he promised to hold elections soon.
On Friday Mr Mansour dissolved the upper house or Shura Council which
had been dominated by Morsi supporters and had served as sole
legislative body after the lower house was dissolved last year.Mr
Mansour also appointed a new intelligence chief, Mohamed Ahmed Farid.
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