(AFP Photo)
By Nourhan Dakroury
Clashes broke out on Wednesday between supporters of President Mohamed Morsi and opposition groups in governates across the country.
Tarek El-Abd, a member of Tamarod (Rebellion) campaign in Gharbeya, said that 350 armed Muslim Brotherhood members attacked anti-Morsi protesters. He claimed that they then headed to the police station and attempted to attack it, but were shot at by police forces, after which they fled.
He added that after the shooting four brotherhood members were injured, with the opposition suffering only mild injuries. Freedom and Justice Party members in Gharbeya couldn’t be reached for comment.
Health Minister Mohamed Mostafa Hamed announced that 18 died in Giza governorate alone, and 619 were injured nationwide. According to Aswat Masriya, these casualties occurred in the 24-hour period between 8 a.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
Aswat Masriya reported that clashes in Giza governorate Tuesday evening in the Bein El-Sarayat area, near Cairo University, killed 16 and injured 200
The Tamarod campaign issued a statement on Wednesday mourning the death of a campaign member allegedly killed by “Brotherhood militias” during Tuesday night’s clashes.
In a statement on Wednesday morning the Brotherhood condemned the violent attacks and announced its disassociation from the violence. “We’ve received information that there are heinous plots for violence and aggression against demonstrators in Tahrir Square and outside Itihadiya Palace, ” read the statement.
It denied responsibility for any plots of violence, saying: “The blood of the Egyptians, all Egyptians, is most sacred.”
Clashes also broke put in the Kit Kat area, near Imbaba in Giza, which resulted in the injury of 21 from birdshot.
Daqahleya also saw fights on Tuesday night between the conflicting parties, which escalated until the military and police forces used tear gas against the crowd. Brotherhood member Ibrahim Abou Ouff claimed that Morsi’s opponents initiated attacks against his supporters, and Amr Mohamed Hassan of Tamarod claimed the opposite.
In Alexandria 22 people were injured in renewed fighting between supporters and opponents of the president, leading to security forces interfering and teargasing protesters.
Clashes have erupted in the governorates of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Minya, Qaliubiya, Beheira, Suez, Damietta, Fayoum, Sharqeya, Beni Sueif and the Red Sea, according to Aswat Masriya.
The fighting has been ongoing throughout the month of June between the Brotherhood and opponents of Morsi, but escalated in the days before 30 June.
