Tens of thousands of defiant Muslim Brotherhood activists thronged Egypt’s streets on Friday for “Friday of anger” protests as around 50 people were killed in fresh clashes after over 638 people died in a brutal crackdown on supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
Defying Interior Ministry’s warning that police would use live ammunition against anyone threatening public buildings, thousands of supporters of Morsi’s party Muslim Brother-hood thronged streets and clashed with the security forces in the capital Cairo, Ismailiya, Damietta and Alexandria.The Army deployed dozens of armoured vehicles around the the capital and blocked all roads leading to Rabia al-Adawiya where hundreds were killed in police firing on Wednesday. Barbed wires blocked all entrances to Tahrir Square, the scene of anti-regime protests during January 2011 revolution.
Officially the death toll in the fresh violence has been put around 50, but Muslim Brotherhood claimed that over 50 of its supporters have been killed in police firing. Violence was also reported from different parts of the deeply polarised country, even as military vehicles were deployed across Cairo and Giza, taking up positions in squares and securing important institutions, the State-run EGYNews reported.
The Health Ministry spokesman said death toll from nationwide violence in Egypt has climbed to more than 638, making it the bloodiest day since the Arab Spring in 2011 toppled longtime President Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising. The Egyptian Army tightened security in Cairo and other cities in response to the Muslim Brotherhood’s calls for marches from 28 mosques following Friday prayers. Tens of thousands of pro-Morsi supporters took to the streets after Friday prayers for marches as part of what they dubbed as a “Friday of anger” in defiance of the military-imposed state of emergency.
Armoured vehicles and barbed wires blocked entrances to Tahrir Square, Mustafa Mahmoud Square. Security forces fired birdshot and tear gas to stop supporters from reaching a Government building in Tanta.The Muslim Brotherhood had promised huge protests on Friday, and Egypt’s Military Government showed no sign of easing its crackdown, setting the stage for what could become another catastrophic encounter of security forces and protesters.