Egyptian security forces early today began a crack down on
the pro-Morsi supporters in an efforts to end the almost six weeks street
protest in Cairo.
It will be recalled that former President Morsi was removed
from power on July 3 by the Military and replaced his government with a
civilian interim administration. The pro-Morsi group took to the street
demanding his reinstatement.
Though, security forces have been able to clear a sub-urb of
Cairo, Nahda of protesters but gun fire
exchange were still on-going between
members of the Muslim Brotherhood and members of the government security forces
Rabaa Al-Adawiya camp.
Churches were reportedly set ablaze by the Muslim
Brotherhood and burnt police stations and police vehicles.
As at 12 noon there were conflicting figures as to the
number of causalities and the wounded. While Muslim Brotherhood claimed that
over 200 of their fold had been killed and over 8,000 wounded, the Interior
Ministry claimed that only 15 protesters were killed when they opened fire on the
security men and about 200 wounded.
Security forces have stormed the
larger camp in the eastern Cairo district of Nasr City and were closing in on a
mosque that has served as the epicenter of vigil. Several leaders of Morsi's
Brotherhood are thought to have been staying inside the mosque.
Today's attacks on the two pro-Morsi camps are the latest
chapter in the turmoil that has roiled Egypt since the 2011 ouster of autocrat
Hosni Mubarak and are likely to deepen the nation's division between the camp
of Islamists led by the Muslim Brotherhood on one side, and secularists,
liberals, moderate Muslims and minority Christians on the other.
One of the security officials said a total of 200 protesters
were arrested from both sites on Wednesday.
The pro-Morsi Anti-Coup alliance claimed that security forces
used live ammunition, but the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the
police, said its forces only used tear gas and that they came under fire from
the camp.
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