Four civilians and one policemen were killed in Egypt on Thursday, as police blocked protests marking the first anniversary of a deadly crackdown on Islamists that followed the army’s toppling of president Mohammed Morsi.
Two people died of gunshot wounds in clashes between backers and opponents of Morsi in the district of Ard al-Lewa in Giza near Cairo, witnesses said.
Two more civilians were killed in clashes between security forces and pro-Morsi protesters in the Cairo quarters of Agouza and al-Mataria, state-run newspaper al-Ahram reported online.
A policeman was killed by gunmen who opened fire on his private car in the southern Cairo area of Helwan, security officials said.
Police fired tear gas to disperse rallies held by Morsi’s supporters in the coastal city of Alexandria, the northern province of Dakahlia and Minya in the south, local media reported.
The Interior Ministry said 63 followers of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood were arrested in seven cities, including Cairo.
Security forces stormed a Brotherhood-led protest camp in Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya area on August 14 last year, killing 817 people, Human Rights Watch said this week.
The New York-based rights watchdog said there was evidence of indiscriminate killing at the camp, which made it likely that the authorities had committed crimes against humanity.
The report was rejected by the Egyptian government, which insists that protesters opened fire on police first.
Security has been beefed up in Cairo for the anniversary. Security forces were deployed outside key institutions and in the city’s subway stations.
Since Morsi’s overthrow in July 2013, Egypt has seen deadly attacks, mainly targeting security personnel and facilities.
In December, the government designated the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization after accusing it of involvement in violence.
The Islamist group denies this, accusing the government of oppression.
GNA
PDC
