Protests were held in a number of Egyptian cities on Friday by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, although the turnout at rallies was low.
Clashes erupted in various cities between pro-Morsi protesters and security forces or groups of locals who opposed the protests.
There were clashes in the Mohandiseen district of Greater Cairo between locals and protesters on Friday afternoon.
The clashes were later dispersed by police and military forces. Behooth metro station in Dokki remained closed for several hours during the incident.
Friday’s protests were called for by the Muslim Brotherhood-led National Alliance to Support Legitimacy under the slogan “the youth are the pillar of the revolution.” The alliance has called for a week of rallies starting on Friday, to coincide with the first week of the new academic year.
A different rally in the Cairo district of Heliopolis also took place on Friday. Protesters numbering in their hundreds headed to the presidential palace chanting anti-army and anti-police slogans. The rally reached to El-Merghany Street and did not advance as security forces had blocked off all routes to the palace.
In Alexandria clashes also erupted between hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters and groups of locals in the Camp Shiraz area, and later spread to other districts including Sidi Gaber and Mostafa Kamel.
Rocks and firearms were used during the violence, which was halted by the security forces, who fired teargas. Locals also handed over a group of pro-Morsi protesters to the military in the area.
According to the National Alliance to Support Legitimacy, 18 pro-Morsi protesters were injured on Friday, while 30 were arrested.
In Suez, three people were taken to hospital after violent clashes between protesters and locals in the Al-Arbaeen area.
In Beheira in the Nile Delta, Morsi supporters’ attempts to organise three rallies led to clashes with locals once protesters chanted anti-military slogans. At least one person was injured.
In Damietta, also in the Delta, a rally was dispersed by locals in a similar way.
The turnout at the day’s demonstrations was markedly lower than in previous weeks. A wave of arrests targeting senior Brotherhood figures has impacted the ability of the group to mobilise supporters.
Source : Ahram
