Egypt, two dead and 400 wounded in clashes between police and protesters after the massacre at Port Said
The violence occurred last night in Suez. The police opened fire to disperse the crowd that had stormed the local police station. Thousands in Cairo descended into the streets to demand the resignation of the High Council of the Army
Cairo (AsiaNews) - The balance stands at two dead and 400 wounded after clashes between police and the protesters exploded yesterday in Suez, Cairo and in the main Egyptian cities, after the massacre at Port Said (Suez) where on February 1, 74 people were killed in a clash between supporters of two rival football teams, the local al-Masry and Cairo's al-Alhy. The most serious protests occurred last night in Suez, where a mob tried to storm a police station. To disperse the protesters, the officers opened fire, killing two people.
In the capital, thousands al-Alhy fans are protesting in Tahrir Square and since yesterday have blocked the entrance to the Ministry of the Interior and to the football stadium. Many of them participated in the Jasmine revolution. They are calling for the resignation of the High Council of the Military (SCAF), which is unable to ensure security in the country and according to some, has fomented clashes with the protesters. Some witnesses say that the officers allegedly allowed the fans of al-Masry, the team at Port Said, to rush against the supporters of the opposing team.
Meanwhile, parliament will discuss who was responsible for the massacre at Port Said. Salafists and members of the Muslim Brotherhood have accused the soccer fans of al-Alhy, considered by many to be close to the former Mubarak regime, of having caused the invasion onto the field. The democratic parties don't believe this version and are pointing the finger at the police and the army, which are unable to handle the chaos. Regardless, members of both parties are calling for the resignation of Minister of the Interior, Mohamed Ibrahim, and yesterday initiated a parliamentary inquiry to shed light on the tragedy.
To extinguish criticism, SCAF has ordered the resignation of the governor of Port Said city, the dismissal of the head of security and the expulsion of the leaders of the Egyptian football federation.
In the capital, thousands al-Alhy fans are protesting in Tahrir Square and since yesterday have blocked the entrance to the Ministry of the Interior and to the football stadium. Many of them participated in the Jasmine revolution. They are calling for the resignation of the High Council of the Military (SCAF), which is unable to ensure security in the country and according to some, has fomented clashes with the protesters. Some witnesses say that the officers allegedly allowed the fans of al-Masry, the team at Port Said, to rush against the supporters of the opposing team.
Meanwhile, parliament will discuss who was responsible for the massacre at Port Said. Salafists and members of the Muslim Brotherhood have accused the soccer fans of al-Alhy, considered by many to be close to the former Mubarak regime, of having caused the invasion onto the field. The democratic parties don't believe this version and are pointing the finger at the police and the army, which are unable to handle the chaos. Regardless, members of both parties are calling for the resignation of Minister of the Interior, Mohamed Ibrahim, and yesterday initiated a parliamentary inquiry to shed light on the tragedy.
To extinguish criticism, SCAF has ordered the resignation of the governor of Port Said city, the dismissal of the head of security and the expulsion of the leaders of the Egyptian football federation.
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