Photo: Sarah Carr/Amnesty

Victims of a previous clash (file photo): Several people were killed and scores injured when demonstrators took to the streets of Cairo to protest against the country's ruling generals.

The Egyptian government deplored the violence that erupted in Cairo's Abbassiya district earlier Friday 04/05/2012, calling on the citizens to put Egypt's interests first.

A conscript died of gunshot wounds and 373 people were injured in clashes between protesters and army troops in Abbassiya near the Ministry of Defense.

In a statement, the Cabinet slammed attempts to storm the headquarters of the Defense Ministry.

"Such acts cannot be justified as the military council has repeatedly announced its commitment to handing over power to a civilian administration before June 30," it said.

The Cabinet urged all political powers and the parliament to put Egypt's interests over any "other narrow interests".