Demonstrations called for by the National Alliance to Support Legitimacy and held on Friday across Egypt resulted in seven deaths and dozens injured.
The alliance called for mass protests last Wednesday on what it had dubbed the Friday of “The People Regaining their Revolution.” Turnout for the rallies was lower than what has been witnessed over the last few weeks.
Seven people died over the course of Friday’s demonstrations, reported state owned Al-Ahram. Three died as a result of clashes between security forces and demonstrators before the 7pm curfew.
The Ministry of Interior announced last Thursday that it would use live ammunition to defend government institutions, would not allow the establishment of any sit-ins and stressed that it would enforce the curfew.
After 7pm dozens of protesters remained in the Mohandessin area in Giza and were eventually dispersed by the security forces. The ensuing clashes resulted in three deaths and injuries to both sides. The security forces also arrested 34 people for defying the curfew, reported Al-Ahram. In total, 230 were arrested nationwide, according to the ministry.
The ministry expressed its “thanks and appreciation to the masses of Egyptian people” for not assembling in the streets, adding that some areas did see demonstrations “on a limited scale.” The ministry statement, published on Wednesday said: “this cooperation had a deep impact in seeing events on Friday 30 [August] occur without any repercussions or events” that might have had “a significant impact on the overall situation.”
On Friday morning the ministry had blocked access to some of Cairo’s main squares ahead of the demonstrations, including Tahrir Square and Rabaa Al-Adaweya Square, which was the site of a pro-Mohamed Morsi sit-in for weeks until it was dispersed by security forces on 14 August.
