Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi clash with anti-Morsi protesters near Maspero, Egypt's state TV and radio station, near Tahrir square in Cairo July 5, 2013.
(Photo credit Reuters / Amr Dalsh)
Mohammed Sultan, deputy head of Egypt's national ambulance service said that 36 people were killed on Friday during violent clashes between supporters and opponents of deposed President Morsi. 1,138 more were injured, according to the Health Ministry.
[pullquote_right]Some of the worst violence was reported in Alexandria, where 14 people lost their lives.[/pullquote_right]
Tens of thousands of people marched across the country in what the Muslim Brotherhood movement has called a "Friday of Rage".
Street battles broke out in at least eight areas of Cairo and in other parts of the country, with some celebrating the fall of the democratically elected leader and others who feared the return of military rule Egypt has struggled to put in the past.
The clashes accelerated as the supreme leader of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Badie addressed the protesters proclaiming that his followers would not give up street action until the return of the president.
“God make Morsi victorious and bring him back to the palace,” Badie roused supporters at a Cairo mosque during what was his first appearance since the overthrow. “We are his soldiers we defend him with our lives.”
After Badie’s speech, a large crowd of Islamists moved across 6th October Bridge over the Nile toward Tahrir Square, where scores of Morsi’s opponents had been massed all day.
In Cairo, three hours of street fighting eased after the army deployed troops and vehicles, to keep rival sides apart, Reuters reports.
[caption id="attachment_3247" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Anti-Mursi protesters run during clashes with members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi near Maspero, Egypt's state TV and radio station, near Tahrir square in Cairo July 5, 2013. (Reuters / Amr Dalsh)[/caption]In total five people were killed and another 199 injured when the Muslim Brotherhood attacked in the area of the Oct 6th Bridge, Al Arabiya says citing Egypt's ambulance service.
Also three people were fatally shot outside Cairo’s Republican Guard barracks where Morsi is being held. The army has denied responsibility for the shooting but the incident sparked outrage that has yet to subside. It was not immediately clear whether other security forces may have been behind the shooting.
A car was set on fire amid a barrage of fireworks put to use as weapons. Later reports suggested that further shots and tear gas had been fired.
Helicopters were flying overhead as ambulances tried to tend to the wounded, according to RT's Paula Slier.
Despite suspending the Egyptian constitution after removing Morsi from power, the army has pledged to hold democratic elections and maintain an interim government, although a timetable has yet to be released. A new prime minister could be named as early as Saturday, Reuters reports.
Protesters were also spotted hurling stones off a bridge while fireworks went off. Thick plumes of black smoke emanated from small street fires as Egyptians scattered in different directions. Gunshots have also been reported throughout the country.
People have been running in a disorientated manner through plumes of thick smoke, with some traffic caught in the middle and lots of small fires being started. Protesters hurled stones from the bridge as the fireworks went off.
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