Street violence during demonstrations in Tanta left two dead on Friday, with approximately 24 were injured, according to state-owned Al-Ahram.
Gharbeya security forces arrested 20 people following the violence in which birdshot was exchanged and police forces fired tear gas at protesters.
Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi held nationwide marches and protests on Friday, on a day dubbed “Friday of Martyrs” by the Anti-Coup Alliance, however turnout was low compared to previous marches.
The alliance, supported by the Muslim Brotherhood and others who support the reinstatement of Morsi, called on Egyptians in a statement “to condemn the blatant lies and brutal crimes of the coup, to overthrow the coup, and to triumph for the blood of the martyrs.”
The group also said it would continue protesting against the change in power and “expose” crimes carried out by the government, and condemned the “arbitrary arrests and barbaric raids” on the homes of political figures.
Marches in both Giza and Cairo began following Friday prayers, and did not feature a common meeting point.
Armoured army and police vehicles blocked off certain areas in Cairo, including Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque, the presidential palace, Tahrir Square, and Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque, where one of the group’s 28 marches had been planned.
Marches also took place throughout various governorates, where protesters held up signs with yellow backgrounds behind four fingers, an adopted logo commemorating the violent dispersal of Rabaa Al-Adaweya earlier this month.
The Friday demonstrations came following a week in which prominent members and supporters of the Brotherhood were arrested, including the group’s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, Hassan Al-Brens, Safwat Hegazy, spokesman Ahmed Aref and Ahmed Abu Baraka.
