'At least 82 hurt' as Egypt Islamists, rivals clash in Cairo
At least 82 people were hurt on Friday in clashes after opposition activists marched on thousands of Islamists rallying outside a central Cairo court demanding judicial reform, an official said.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/At-least-82-hur...
The fighting erupted near the iconic Tahrir Square, roughly 0.5 kilometres from where the Islamists had staged their rally, with both sides trading stones.
A few activists on the opposition side fired homemade guns loaded with birdshot at the Islamists, who had taken over a main bridge that crosses the Nile River.
Riot police on foot and in armoured vehicles succeeded by nightfall in creating a cordon between the two sides, but ended up clashing with the opposition activists.
A riot police vehicle on a side street came under fire from birdshot rifles as Islamists ducked for cover behind the armoured vehicle.
A police officer fired back what appeared to be birdshot from a rifle as Islamist protesters cheered, but an interior ministry official later insisted to AFP that police had been armed with only tear gas and blanks.
"The people demand the toppling of the regime," the opposition protesters chanted -- the signature slogan of the early 2011 uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak and eventually brought Islamists into power.
"Morsi! Morsi!" the Islamists chanted back, referring to President Mohamed Morsi, a former Muslim Brotherhood leader.
The head of the Egyptian emergency services, Mohammed Sultan, told television that at least 82 people had been hospitalised.
An interior ministry statement said police arrested 19 suspects in Cairo's clashes, including three young men suspected of torching a bus that had transported the Islamists to their rally.
Islamists and their opponents also clashed in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, where more than a dozen people were injured by stone throwing, witnesses said.
Prime Minister Hisham Qandil issued a statement warning that "demonstrations accompanied by violence completely harm the security and economy of the country and hamper plans for reform."
Morsi's presidency has been plagued by deadly clashes between protesters and police, a revolt in Suez Canal cities, sectarian violence and a devastating economic crisis, in what many fear is bringing Egypt to the brink of chaos.
Since Morsi's election in June, the Islamist leader has sought to face down an increasingly vocal opposition that accuses him of betraying the goals of the 2011 uprising, and Morsi has even had to confront unprecedented strikes by the police.
In Friday's clashes, police had initially withdrawn after their first attempt to separate the protesters, thinking the Islamists would use them as shields, the police lieutenant colonel who ordered his conscripts to retreat told AFP.
They later massed again when the Islamist protesters agreed to hang back.
The Islamists rallying on Friday were demanding an overhaul of the judiciary, which they believe is inimical to Morsi.
A few activists on the opposition side fired homemade guns loaded with birdshot at the Islamists, who had taken over a main bridge that crosses the Nile River.
Riot police on foot and in armoured vehicles succeeded by nightfall in creating a cordon between the two sides, but ended up clashing with the opposition activists.
A riot police vehicle on a side street came under fire from birdshot rifles as Islamists ducked for cover behind the armoured vehicle.
A police officer fired back what appeared to be birdshot from a rifle as Islamist protesters cheered, but an interior ministry official later insisted to AFP that police had been armed with only tear gas and blanks.
"The people demand the toppling of the regime," the opposition protesters chanted -- the signature slogan of the early 2011 uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak and eventually brought Islamists into power.
"Morsi! Morsi!" the Islamists chanted back, referring to President Mohamed Morsi, a former Muslim Brotherhood leader.
The head of the Egyptian emergency services, Mohammed Sultan, told television that at least 82 people had been hospitalised.
An interior ministry statement said police arrested 19 suspects in Cairo's clashes, including three young men suspected of torching a bus that had transported the Islamists to their rally.
Islamists and their opponents also clashed in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, where more than a dozen people were injured by stone throwing, witnesses said.
Prime Minister Hisham Qandil issued a statement warning that "demonstrations accompanied by violence completely harm the security and economy of the country and hamper plans for reform."
Morsi's presidency has been plagued by deadly clashes between protesters and police, a revolt in Suez Canal cities, sectarian violence and a devastating economic crisis, in what many fear is bringing Egypt to the brink of chaos.
Since Morsi's election in June, the Islamist leader has sought to face down an increasingly vocal opposition that accuses him of betraying the goals of the 2011 uprising, and Morsi has even had to confront unprecedented strikes by the police.
In Friday's clashes, police had initially withdrawn after their first attempt to separate the protesters, thinking the Islamists would use them as shields, the police lieutenant colonel who ordered his conscripts to retreat told AFP.
They later massed again when the Islamist protesters agreed to hang back.
The Islamists rallying on Friday were demanding an overhaul of the judiciary, which they believe is inimical to Morsi.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/At-least-82-hur...