Morsi marchers die as army fires
Egypt unrest: Morsi marchers die as army fires
BBC News online -- 5 July 2013
Supporters of Mr Morsi gathered after Friday Prayers to demand his reinstatement
Three people died as Egyptian troops opened fire at supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi marching in Cairo.
The Muslim Brotherhood has been demanding his reinstatement.
The army, which removed Mr Morsi in response to widespread unrest, denied shooting live rounds at the crowd.
However the BBC's Jeremy Bowen at the scene says he saw soldiers fire on the protesters.
About 2,000 people had marched on the officers' club after passionate Friday Prayers at the nearby Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque.
As the crowd grew, got angrier and pushed forward, the troops opened fire - first into the air, then at the crowd, our correspondent reports.
One man fell to the ground with blood on his clothes, says our correspondent - who was himself lightly wounded in the head by shotgun pellets.
Reporter tweets
-
Big forces against each other in #egypt. If can't channel this into political action not street conflict it is a recipe for more bloodshed
Jeremy Bowen 2 hours ago Jump out of Tweet pane - Thanks for the messages. I've been hit by a couple of shotgun pellets. Am fine and heading out
Jeremy Bowen 2 hours ago Jump out of Tweet pane - Tear gas fired by army at crowd that had gathered round the body of dead protestor #cairo
Jeremy Bowen 2 hours ago Jump out of Tweet pane - apache helicopter gunship making low passes over demo
Jeremy Bowen 2 hours ago Jump out of Tweet pane - Much anger at site of killing of MB protestor #cairo. More people arriving from Rabaa al Adawiya direction.
Jeremy Bowen 2 hours ago Jump out of Tweet pane
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There
have been clashes outside the capital as well. A BBC reporter says
soldiers in Qina, in the south, opened fire on pro-Morsi protesters
trying to storm a security building. At least two people were injured.
Shots have also been fired in Alexandria in the north, Egypt's second-largest city.
Jeremy Bowen in Cairo: "Someone opened fire from the military side... I saw the body"
Tamarod and other anti-Morsi forces accuse Mr Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood - to which he belongs - of pursuing an Islamist agenda against the wishes of the majority, and of failing to tackle economic problems.
Ahead of Friday's rallies by Morsi supporters, the army command said it would not take "arbitrary measures against any faction or political current" and would guarantee the right to protest, as long as demonstrations did not threaten national security.
"Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed to everyone, which Egyptians have earned as one of the most important gains of their glorious revolution," it said.
Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad said the movement was refusing to co-operate with the new leadership and demanded the immediate release of those detained.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague tweeted that he was "very concerned by reports of deaths in Cairo".
Mr Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, is in detention, as are senior figures in the Brotherhood. Arrest warrants have been issued for some 300 others.
On Thursday the head of Egypt's constitutional court, Adly Mahmud Mansour, was sworn in as interim head of state and promised elections soon.
On Friday Mr Mansour dissolved the upper house - or Shura Council - which had been dominated by Morsi supporters and had served as sole legislative body after the lower house was dissolved last year.
Mr Mansour also named a new intelligence chief, Mohamed Ahmed Farid.
Mr Morsi's removal followed several days of unrest in which dozens of people died.
Labels: Chaos, Conflict, Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood, Revolution
posted by Pieface @ Friday, July 05, 2013
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