Death toll in Egypt rises to 30, hundreds injured in ‘Friday of Rage’
Medical officials say at least 12 people have been killed in clashes between supporters and opponents of the ousted president in the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria, bringing nationwide toll to 30.
Emergency services official Amr Salama says the 12 died when hundreds of Islamists descended on a rally by opponents of ousted President Mohammed Morsi in the city, opening fire with guns.
He says clashes erupted, and police joined on the side of the Morsi opponents.
Egypt protests
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Salama says he saw one man die when he went to the roof of a building, raised an Egyptian flag and shouted insults against Morsi. Morsi backers went to the roof and stabbed him and threw him off the building.
The state news agency MENA also confirmed 12 dead in the city.
Commentators on Al Jazeera on Friday speculated that the people of Egypt will likely call for the military to clamp down on rioting Islamists and give up “whatever freedom they have” for security.
A fire burned on the bridge as Islamists sporting makeshift shields and wearing helmets they had brought in preparation traded stones with their opponents.
“They are firing at us, sons of dogs, where is the army,” one Morsi opponent shouted, as another was brought to medics with his jeans soaked in blood from wounds in his legs. Army troops deployed on another Nile bridge leading into Tahrir, sealing it off with barbed wire and armored vehicles.
In cities across the country, clashes erupted as Morsi supporters marched on local government buildings, battling police or Morsi opponents.
