Egypt: Clashes erupted during Muslim Brotherhood’s rallies in Cairo and other cities

Islamist protests in Cairo

Egypt’s Islamists and supporters of Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohamed Morsy have held several protests on Friday in Cairo and also in some other cities including Alexandria, Sharqiya, Suez and others. The protests have been organized by Muslim Brotherhood and Alliance in Support of Legitimacy demanding the reinstatement of Mohamed Morsy as Egypt’s President and defying the current government and the roadmap issued by the Armed Forces.

The protests have been planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday to mark the anniversary of 1973 war with Israel.

Several hundreds of Mohamed Morsy’s and Muslim Brotherhood’s supporters have been protesting on Friday in downtown Cairo trying to reach Tahrir Square and some other popular protests sites including Presidential Palace in Helioplis, headquarters of Interior Ministry in Eastern Cairo, Rabaa Al-Adaweya Square in Nasr City which was the site of the main sit-in of the Islamists and was violently dispersed by security forces in August, and some other squares.

Though the attempts of the pro-Morsy protesters to reach those sites failed as security and military forces have been patrolling the area and prevented the demonstrators from moving to these spots. Several military vehicles and tanks have been deployed in the area and the entrances and the roads leading to these sites have been blocked.

Protesters have been chanting against military and the Head of Egypt’s Armed Forces Abdel Fattah El-Sissi and have been demanding the reinstatement of Mohamed Morsy and stopping the crackdown on the members of Muslim Brotherhood.

Several clashes erupted during the marches between the pro-Morsy protesters and their opponents and some local residents and also security forces trying to disperse the crowds.

Police and security forces have been reportedly firing tear gas and shooting in the air. The marches have been forces to retreat from the planned locations.

Ministry of Health reported about four killed and dozens of wounded as a result of the clashes erupted in Cairo. There are also the reports about the clashes in other Egyptian cities as well.