Voice of America (Washington, DC)

Egypt: Cairo Protesters Ignore Military Orders to Disperse

Photo: Li Muzi/Xinhua
Members of opposition groups wave flags during an anti-President Mohamed Morsi rally at Tahrir Square in Cairo, capital of Egypt, on June 30, 2013.

Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi are continuing their protest in the Egyptian capital, despite orders from security forces to end their sit-in and disperse.

The situation in Cairo's Nasr City was relatively quiet Sunday morning, after fighting between security forces and Morsi supporters killed at least 74 people in Cairo and Alexandria since Friday. Around a thousand people have been injured.

Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement said Saturday that police fired into unarmed demonstrators in Nasr City, where members have been camped for weeks demanding his reinstatement.

Egyptian officials deny the accusations, saying police only fired tear gas and that pro-Morsi marchers were responsible for the violence.

In Alexandria, Egyptian authorities said people inside a mosque fired shots into the surrounding neighborhood Saturday, while Morsi supporters say gunmen shot into the mosque.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday called this period a pivotal moment for Egypt and warned that violence is a setback for reconciliation and democracy.

He said that Egyptian authorities are morally and legally obligated to respect the right of free speech and assembly. He is calling for an impartial investigation into the latest violence.

Morsi has been held in secret military detention since July 3. Officials say they are investigating allegations that he conspired with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

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