Clashes at Islamist march in Egyptian capital kill 6

[Lite Beer]

Clashes at Islamist march in Egyptian capital kill 6
BRIAN ROHAN, Associated Press

CAIRO (AP) — Clashes between Egyptian security forces and Muslim Brotherhood supporters killed at least six people on Friday, after demonstrations in Cairo at the start of a major religious holiday weekend descended into violence.

It was the deadliest toll at Islamist protests for months in the capital, and came as part of a violent crackdown on the Brotherhood, which authorities have banned and labelled a terrorist organization.

The fighting erupted when hundreds of Brotherhood supporters staged a march in the Talibiya neighborhood of Giza, which is part of greater Cairo, after morning prayers following the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the start of the major Muslim holiday, Eid al-Fitr.

Skirmishes broke out between marchers on one side and local residents and police on the other. The violence quickly escalated with live ammunition and shotguns, a security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Brotherhood supporters took to social media to accuse security forces of firing at peaceful protesters, while the Interior Ministry and police officials said in a statement that they were fired upon by armed protesters.

A video circulating on social media showed a crowd of young demonstrators in a standoff with police, shooting fireworks in their direction and burning flares before fleeing as explosions are heard. It could not be independently verified but it corresponded to events reported by The Associated Press.

The ministry said in a statement that five demonstrators were killed in the Talibiya clashes, and one in the nearby town of Nahia, an Islamist stronghold where another group of protesters clashed with police. A total of 15 people were wounded.

It said that police had gained control of the Talibiya area, which is located near the main road that leads to the famed Giza pyramids, and had arrested 15 Brotherhood supporters.

The ministry said the man killed in Nahia was a known Brotherhood supporter and demonstrator who had previously been detained by police. The town is fervently anti-government and is considered a no-go zone for security forces.

Political violence has increased in Egypt, two years after Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was ousted by the military, following mass protests against his rule. After Morsi's ouster, his successor and current President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi launched a sweeping crackdown on dissent that has killed hundreds and jailed thousands.

Attacks on security personnel and officials also intensified after Morsi's ouster, and outlawed demonstrations continue regularly in poor suburbs and villages.

Egyptian authorities blame most attacks on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group, which denies using violence. But Brotherhood ranks have grown divided recently on whether to use force to confront the government in response to the nearly 2-year-old crackdown against them.

Egypt also faces threats from multiple insurgent factions, including the Islamic State affiliate in the Sinai Peninsula, which the military says killed at least 17 soldiers in a July 1 assault there. Officials from several branches of Egypt's security forces previously told the AP that that attack killed dozens more.

In late June, Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat was assassinated in Cairo by a car bomb — an attack for which the Islamic State affiliate also claimed responsibility.

Last week, another car bomb ripped into the Italian Consulate in Cairo, destroying a section of the historic building in a powerful blast that was the most significant attack yet on foreign interests in Egypt.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-18

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

[Kannikapor88]

Finally some good news ...

[Lissos]

The current regime in Egypt should be subjected to boycotts, divestment, and sanctions.

Living far away from it all (can I assume?) you have the luxury to sit there at a safe distance Boycotting, Divesting and Sanctioning. On the ground, el-Sisi is the best man to prevent Egypt totally going to the dogs in the current c!imate.

Just under the surface, many Egyptians know it full well too as some quietly confided in me in late 2011 that anyone who cares to look at Egyptian history will admit that it has excelled under leaders with strong military experience.

Outside, crowds of facebooking liberal students were having running battles with riot police, chanting louder and louder for Tantawi to step down. The next day, a multitude of Islamist parties flooded Midan Tahrir, selling their 'wares'. I spent about an hour talking to a well dressed doctor who was a member of the MB.

Answering one of my questions he didn't hesitate to clarify that of course, Christians and others wouldn't have the same rights and share power with the dominant Muslim reign that it would be if MB was voted in. I both admired his honesty (he answered as if the suggestion of non Muslims having equal rights and say in the country was amusing) and it was a snapshot. The trendy protesters unwittingly doing the foot work for them demanding that Tantawi step down and call elections, seemed clueless about who was waiting in the wings to fill the vacuum. Egyptians who said Egypt excelled under strong military leaders and was what they 'actually' need right now, prophesised el-Sisi without realising.

[arjunadawn]

Wow. Islam and violence. What will they think of next?

[Neurath]

BDS on Egypt due to their illegal occupation of Egypt is most certainly called for.

[metisdead]

An off topic baiting post has been removed as well as the replies.

[Lissos]

Yep, most of the Levant and North Africa is under illegal ideological occupation.

All of it was Christian lands at one time, lest we forget (which most of us have)