Supporters of ousted president Mohammad Morsi were caught on tape attacking security forces yesterday.
The Interior Minister blamed Morsi supporters for clashes last night. The minister claimed the government did not fire live rounds at the protesters.
Al-Arabiya reported:
Egypt’s ministry of interior blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for deadly Cairo clashes on Saturday and denied officers fired live rounds.
Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said in a press conference on Saturday that pro-Mursi sit-ins will be “dealt with soon.”
Ibrahim said the procedure will be taken based on a decision by the prosecutor, who has been examining legal complaints by citizens about the protests that have blocked major Cairo thoroughfares.“God willing, it will be broken up in a way that does not cause losses,” Ibrahim said referring to sit-ins that have lasted about a month. “But, God permitting, it must end. We hope that they come to their senses … and join their political process.”
“With regards to the timing … to disperse the protesters, there is complete coordination between us and the armed forces,” the minister told a news conference.
“There are still meetings going on to set the appropriate time to implement that plan according to the complaints submitted to the prosecutor on transgressions of the law by the protesters.”
The minister, who accused the pro-Mursi camp of exaggerating the numbers killed in clashes, said security forces used tear gas to disperse demonstrators on a bridge because of concerns they could cause the bridge to collapse by lighting vehicle tires.
But he said the security forces had not used any live ammunition, but had instead suffered buckshot wounds and injuries from live rounds fired by protesters.
An Egyptian protester receives assistance after being injured in clashes yesterday. (Rabaa Adeweya)
