Egypt: Violent clashes erupted in Cairo between Morsy’s supporters and security forces

Clashes between Morsy's supporters and security forces
in Cairo's Nasr City

Violent clashes erupted in the early hours of Saturday, 27 July, between the supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohamed Morsy and security forces in Cairo’s Nasr City, in front of Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque, where the Islamist protesters stage sit-in and protests since 28 June and close to the Monument to Unknown Soldier located one kilometer from the Mosque.

Police and security forces have reportedly fired teargas in order to disperse the crowds of the pro-Morsy protesters when they attempted to block 6^th October Bridge. Violent clashes erupted with the protesters throwing rocks and stones at the lines of security forces and their cars and burning the tires of the cars near their cordons. Security forces have responded with the tear gas.

According to some witnesses of the events and the statements of Muslim Brotherhood the security forces have been also using birdshots and live ammunition rounds against the protesters. Interior Ministry’s representatives are denying those accusations during their official press-conference being held on Saturday, 27 July, and claim only the rounds of teargas have been used during the clashes.

Protests in Cairo

The violent clashes started in Nasr City just a few hours after Egypt’s Interior Minister’s statement that the massive rallies and sit-in of Morsy’s supporters in Nasr City will be “dispersed by law”.

According to the official statement of Egypt’s Health Ministry the violent clashes have left 65 people dead and nearly 180 inured, while Muslim Brotherhood’s sources claim there have been at least 200 people have been killed and more than 4,500 injured as a result of security forces’ crackdown on a Muslim Brotherhood’s demonstrations. Muslim Brotherhood’s official statement describes the events happened on Saturday as massacre committed by Egypt’s security forces against the protesters.

Meanwhile several representatives of different political forces and powers in Egypt have been calling to halt the violence and to start the reconciliation dialogue as only the political solution could help to resolve the current crisis amid the clashes and deepening divisions of society. International politicians and diplomats including US and EU, have expressed deep concern over the events in Egypt and also urged Egyptians to stop the violence and to start a peaceful transitional process.

During the press-conference of Egypt's security forces held on Saturday the representatives of police claimed the CSF never opened fire on the protesters and used only tear gas to disperse the crowds. But at the same time most of those dead or injured people the fireld hospitals have been receiving had the wounds caused by birdshots and live ammunition as well.

Egypt's prosecution has also announced they will open investigation over the violence erupted in front of Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque and Monument to Unknown Soldier in nasr City and in Giza in front of Cairo University. Several dozens have beel already arrested.