Egypt’s political forces blame one another for the violence Egypt’s Heliopolis Hospital announced that one demonstrator was killed during clashes around Cairo’s presidential palace, as security forces arrested 18 others in attempts to regain control of the area .Egypt’s presidency meanwhile criticised marchers who threw Molotov cocktails, stones and fireworks, before attempting to storm the gates of the presidential palace.
Central Security forces responded by setting fire to demonstrators’ tents, firing tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Dozens of people sustained suffocation-related injuries to the reportedly excessive use of tear gas.
Egypt’s presidency has held opposition forces responsible for last night’s violence, demanding parties withdraw their supporters from the area surrounding the Ittiyihada. Security forces would deal “strictly” to protect state buildings, it added.
The National Salvation Front [NSF] meanwhile claimed it had no connection to rioting. The coalition, in a press statement, said: “The demonstrations launched from Nour Mosque and Rabaa el-Adaweya Mosque were peaceful in nature. The demonstrators have not involved in any riot actions during their march to the presidential palace.”
The NSF demanded security forces reveal those provoking violent actions near the building, whilst also committing to the rule of law when dealing with protesters.
President Mohammed Morsi and the ruling Muslim Brotherhood should bear the responsibility for the current crisis, the NSF claimed, because of their refusal to accept legal challenges such as the formation of a national salvation government, amendments to Morsi’s Constitutional Declaration and the establishment of a fact-finding mission to investigate recent violence in Canal cities such as Port Said and Suez.
Egyptian politician Ayman Nour joined condemnation of the clashes, claiming the country’s media should bear the responsibility for violence.
Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed el-Orabi meanwhile refuted the presidential statement, claiming the Muslim Brotherhood sought to tarnish the image of revolutionaries.