CAIRO: Three people were killed as supporters and opponents of Egypt’s ousted Islamist president Mohammed Mursi clashed after prayers yesterday, security officials said, a day after five people died in sporadic violence.
Supporters of Mursi have attempted to stage rallies since Thursday, the first anniversary of a deadly police crackdown in Cairo that left hundreds dead, but security forces have swiftly quashed them.
Yesterday, two people were killed when pro-Mursi supporters clashed with their opponents after the prayers in Cairo’s western neighbourhood of Faisal.
Clashes erupted when pro-Mursi marchers set off fireworks close to shops and residences in the area, the official said, adding the two men were killed by live ammunition and birdshot. Riot police later intervened and also clashed with pro-Mursi protesters. Eight Mursi supporters were arrested and a security officer and three conscripts were wounded in Faisal.
The interior ministry said that “an armed and masked Mursi supporter” was killed by security forces south of Cairo when they intervened to break up a clash between the two groups. Five people including a police officer were wounded in a separate protest in north Cairo.
AFP
