Clashes at Egyptian Islamist march in Cairo kill five

CAIRO – Clashes between Egyptian security forces and Muslim Brotherhood supporters killed at least six people on Friday, after demonstrations in Cairo at the start of a major religious holiday weekend descended into violence.

The official says over 500 supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group had staged a march on Friday in the Talibiya neighbourhood of Giza, which is part of greater Cairo, after morning prayers following the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Health Ministry, that will crack the scoop, hasn’t supply more details regarding the conflicts.

Protest clashes were also reported in the village of Nahya near Cairo. However, pro-Morsi supporters continue to hold small protests.

Demonstrations have dwindled under a law that requires a police permit.

The crackdown has gutted the Muslim Brotherhood, once Egypt’s largest political movement.

Last month, Morsi was handed the death sentence along with 130 other defendants for allegedly orchestrating a 2011 jail break during the uprising that led to the ouster of the country’s former dictator Hosni Mubarak.

In 2012, the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Mohamed Morsi won the presidential election, but was ousted and arrested by the military a year later.

The Islamist proved to be a divisive leader, prompting millions to demonstrate against him demanding his resignation.

Police intervened and arrested 15 people, according to a security source. It said there was no loss of life.

They boarded the vessel, which stayed afloat, to extinguish the flames.

Aside from insecurity in the Sinai, officials are also concerned by militants thriving in the chaos of Libya, which shares a long porous border with Egypt.

Since his overthrow, more than 1,400 people have been killed in a police crackdown, including those who died in Rabaa al-Adawiya.

In late June, Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat was assassinated in Cairo by a vehicle bomb – an attack for which the Islamic State affiliate also claimed responsibility.

Morsi was ousted by then army chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The interior ministry said at least 10 policemen were killed during the dispersal after coming under fire from protesters.