CAIRO, July 17 (UPI) — Six people were killed Friday at a Cairo, Egypt, demonstration supporting ousted President Mohammed Morsi, the Health Ministry reported.
The violence came after Friday morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr, a celebration marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The pro-Morsi Muslim Brotherhood staged the demonstration.
Fifteen armed members were arrested by security forces before shots were fired. The police blamed unknown gunmen for firing on the protesters, but Muslim Brotherhood claimed the deaths came as police attempted to break up the march.
The Brotherhood has faced a crackdown since 2013, when thousands, including Morsi, were jailed. Morsi sent a message from his jail cell Thursday, calling for his followers to “save Egypt from oppressive military officials.”
Other cities in Egypt had similar, but smaller, protests Friday. The Andalou News Agency said police fired live ammunition at demonstrators in several neighborhoods in Giza. Security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters in Alexandria, where 20 people were arrested.
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