30 dead, hundreds injured in clashes throughout Egypt

Thirty were killed and 1076 were injured in clashes throughout the country between supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi and their opponents, the Ministry of Health told the state-run Middle East News Agency on Saturday. 

In Cairo, there were three major fronts witnessing violent clashes, one near the Republican Guards where Morsi supporters gathered to demand the return of the ousted president, and the second on the October 6 Bridge near the Maspero television building. In the second front, Morsi supporters attempted to reach Tahrir Square but were stopped by their opponents with whom they clashed. 

In the early hours of Saturday, clashes burst in a third front in Cairo in the Manial area between Morsi supporters and their opponents. Eyewitnesses reported live ammunition being fired during the clashes. 

In both the Maspero and the Manial clashes, eyewitnesses reported very late security intervention to stop the violence. The Armed Forces deployed troops and vehicles to cordon Tahrir Square, where anti-Morsi groups congregated, for fear of further clashes. The late security response infuriated some activists in the anti-Morsi camp, who questioned the military and security position vis a vis the increasing violence.     

Alexandria also witnessed severe clashes in the Sidi Gaber area, where eyewitnesses said live ammunition was in use. Mahienour al-Massry, an eyewitness, reported that field hospitals were flooded with injured people.

Violence was also witnessed in the Upper Egyptian cities of Qena and Assiut, among others. 

A string of attacks also continued in North Sinai, where Friday opened with an attack on five main checkpoints. Later on Friday, unknown assailants on motorbikes killed two police officers. MENA then reported another attack on Saturday morning on three checkpoints, which were targeted by masked gunmen in four-wheel drives.