M A I N   N E W S

51 killed as pro-Mursi protesters, army clash

Rise against army: Islamists Muslim Brotherhood urged people to rise up against the army, which they accuse of a military coup to remove the elected leader. Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing called for “an uprising by the great people of Egypt against those trying to steal their revolution with tanks”.

Cairo, July 8
Deadly street violence erupted between supporters of Egypt's deposed President Mohammed Mursi and soldiers outside the army headquarters here today and at least 51 persons were killed and over 400 injured as the standoff escalated between the military-backed new interim government and the Muslim Brotherhood.

"The clashes left at least 51 civilians dead and 435 injured," the ministry of health said. The army arrested over 200 attackers. The clash took place outside the Republican Guard headquarters, where 61-year-old toppled President is said to have been put "under guard".

The army, in a statement, said "an armed terrorist group tried to storm" the Republican Guard compound and soldiers retaliated by firing. The statement said one army officer was killed and 40 were injured in the incident.

However, the Muslim Brotherhood contradicted army's statement saying military opened fired on its supporters, killing several pro-Mursi protesters.

Egypt's interim administration led by Adli Mansour expressed "deep regret" for those killed in the violence. It also formed a judicial committee to investigate the events.

The Muslim Brotherhood has, in a statement, called for Mursi's reinstatement and said the Shura Council, the parliament's only operating house that was dissolved last week, was the "solution" to the current turmoil. — PTI