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Published: 27 January, 2013, 15:58
Edited: 28 January, 2013, 10:25
Egyptian protesters run for cover after throwing stones at riot police during a demonstration in Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 26, 2013 (AFP Photo/Mohhamed Abed) (AP video from Cairo)
(26.4Mb)embed video
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has declared a 30-day state of emergency in Egypt and called for national dialogue, after ongoing clashes and protests led to the deaths of 49 people and left hundreds injured.
Morsi set curfews in the most volatile cities of Port Said, Suez and Ismailia. Seven people were killed in Port Said on Sunday.
"I promised not to take extraordinary measures unless I was forced to, and here I am doing so. I announced a state of emergency in the cities of Ismailia, Suez and Port Said for a period of 30 days," President Morsi said in his televised address on Sunday evening.
"I instructed interior ministry officials to strictly deal with whoever threatens people and public and private institutions," he said.
In his address the president also called for a meeting with senior politicians and groups. The spokesman for the main Egyptian opposition coalition told Reuters that he wanted more details about an invitation for dialogue.
The state of emergency is set to start at midnight.
"The protection of the nation is the responsibility of everyone. We will confront any threat to its security with force and firmness within the remit of the law," Mursi said.
Shortly after the state of emergency was declared, some 200 people marched in the streets of Ismailia, Reuters reported citing witnesses."Down with Mursi, down with the state of emergency," they chanted.
18-year-old Abdel Rahman Farag was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest, the head of Port Said hospitals told Reuters. No immediate details were available about the other two victims. More than 416 people suffered from teargas inhalation, while 17 sustained gunshot wounds, he said.
“There are still bloody and chaotic scenes in Port Said…the army has been deployed…eyewitnesses say they see tanks on the street at the moment," journalist Bel Trew, who is in Cairo, told RT.
Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed El-Beltagy has urged Egyptian authorities to "step in with full strength in order to prevent the killing of civilians."
Thousands of people turned out for the funerals of 35 rioters who were killed in Port Said on Saturday. The mourners shouted,"There is no God but Allah, and Morsi is God's enemy" after praying for the dead at the city's Mariam Mosque. Teargas was fired in the vicinity and gunfire was heard nearby. Emergency vehicle sirens were also heard, a witness told Reuters.
Thousands of demonstrators also gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday. Protesters threw petrol bombs at riot police who responded by firing teargas.
Rallies have been taking place in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and half a dozen other places, many of which have become violent. Protesters have taken to the streets in greater numbers following Saturday’s death sentence verdicts over a stadium stampede last February.
Watch more from Cairo's Tahrir Square:
The Egyptian city of Port Said has experienced the most violent clashes, with 32 killed on Saturday alone. Armored vehicles and military police have attempted to quell the violent protests in the town of 600,000. However, protests reach back to Friday when nine people were killed in a separate demonstration against of the Islamist Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.
Egyptian protesters carry an injured boy during a demonsration in Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 26, 2013. (AFP Photo/Mohhamed Abed)
The outbreak of violence is a consequence of Saturday’s sentencing of 21 people to death for their role in the deaths of 74 people at a soccer stadium riot and stampede last year.
Spectators were trampled and eyewitnesses saw some thrown off balconies following a match between Al Ahly and local team al-Masri. Many Al Ahly fans accused police of playing a role in the deaths.
The sentencing was reportedly followed by the immediate deaths of two policemen
n Egyptian protester next to a fire, throws stones towards riot police during a demonstration in Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 26, 2013. (AFP Photo/Mohhamed Abed)
About 18 prisoners in Suez police stations managed to escape during the violence, a security source reported. Approximately 30 police weapons were stolen. Soldiers have taken up positions at important state facilities, including the local power and water stations, administration buildings, banks and courts.
Protests have been spreading throughout Egyptian cities since Thursday, prior to the sentencing. Opponents of Morsi have been gathering to mark the second anniversary on Friday of the beginning of the revolution that led to Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow.
Morsi has condemned the violence, and appealed for calm among the population. He has proposed “a broad national dialogue”, and Egypt’s army has been summoned to prevent any further escalation for the violence. However, his opposition believes that he has betrayed the economic and representative goals of the previous revolt.
"None of the revolution's goals have been realized," protester Mohamed Sami told Reuters.
“There’s a lot of anger towards the president – this started just at the end of last year when he pushed through what was seen as an unpopular constitution drafted by an Islamist dominated constituent assembly. People also say that he has not made any of the changes that were called for during the January 25 revolution two years ago, so he’s really lost quite a lot of legitimacy on the streets,” Trew said.
“Right now here in the capital there are clashes raging between protesters and security forces on the…lots of tear gas in the air here in down-town Cairo. Rocks have also been exchanged.”
“Security have upped up their presence around government buildings, as the focus of the anger here for protesters is very much against Morsi’s administration… the situation in Egypt really descends into a bit of a crisis”
Egyptian protesters carry a wounded man during a demonstration in Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 26, 2013. (AFP Photo/Mohhamed Abed)
A protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi throws stones at riot police during clashes along Mohamed Mahmoud street which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Al Ahly fans, also known as "Ultras", celebrate with local hand-made gun and shout slogans in front of the Al Ahly club after hearing the final verdict of the 2012 Port Said massacre in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi shout slogans during a fire at a French school along Mohamed Mahmoud street which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi flee from tear gas fired by riot police during clashes along Mohamed Mahmoud street which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
A protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi carries a wounded boy affected by tear gas during clashes along Mohamed Mahmoud street which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi damage the door of the French Lycee School (L) along Mohamed Mahmoud street, which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
A masked protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi sits near a burning table during clashes with riot police along Mohamed Mahmoud street, which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
A protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gestures at riot police during clashes as a fire (rear) is seen at the French Lycee School along Mohamed Mahmoud street, which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Seven killed in Egypt violence, Mursi declares curfewMorsi set curfews in the most volatile cities of Port Said, Suez and Ismailia. Seven people were killed in Port Said on Sunday.
"I promised not to take extraordinary measures unless I was forced to, and here I am doing so. I announced a state of emergency in the cities of Ismailia, Suez and Port Said for a period of 30 days," President Morsi said in his televised address on Sunday evening.
"I instructed interior ministry officials to strictly deal with whoever threatens people and public and private institutions," he said.
In his address the president also called for a meeting with senior politicians and groups. The spokesman for the main Egyptian opposition coalition told Reuters that he wanted more details about an invitation for dialogue.
The state of emergency is set to start at midnight.
"The protection of the nation is the responsibility of everyone. We will confront any threat to its security with force and firmness within the remit of the law," Mursi said.
Shortly after the state of emergency was declared, some 200 people marched in the streets of Ismailia, Reuters reported citing witnesses."Down with Mursi, down with the state of emergency," they chanted.
18-year-old Abdel Rahman Farag was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest, the head of Port Said hospitals told Reuters. No immediate details were available about the other two victims. More than 416 people suffered from teargas inhalation, while 17 sustained gunshot wounds, he said.
“There are still bloody and chaotic scenes in Port Said…the army has been deployed…eyewitnesses say they see tanks on the street at the moment," journalist Bel Trew, who is in Cairo, told RT.
Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed El-Beltagy has urged Egyptian authorities to "step in with full strength in order to prevent the killing of civilians."
Thousands of people turned out for the funerals of 35 rioters who were killed in Port Said on Saturday. The mourners shouted,"There is no God but Allah, and Morsi is God's enemy" after praying for the dead at the city's Mariam Mosque. Teargas was fired in the vicinity and gunfire was heard nearby. Emergency vehicle sirens were also heard, a witness told Reuters.
Thousands of demonstrators also gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday. Protesters threw petrol bombs at riot police who responded by firing teargas.
Rallies have been taking place in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and half a dozen other places, many of which have become violent. Protesters have taken to the streets in greater numbers following Saturday’s death sentence verdicts over a stadium stampede last February.
Watch more from Cairo's Tahrir Square:
The Egyptian city of Port Said has experienced the most violent clashes, with 32 killed on Saturday alone. Armored vehicles and military police have attempted to quell the violent protests in the town of 600,000. However, protests reach back to Friday when nine people were killed in a separate demonstration against of the Islamist Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.
Egyptian protesters carry an injured boy during a demonsration in Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 26, 2013. (AFP Photo/Mohhamed Abed)
Spectators were trampled and eyewitnesses saw some thrown off balconies following a match between Al Ahly and local team al-Masri. Many Al Ahly fans accused police of playing a role in the deaths.
The sentencing was reportedly followed by the immediate deaths of two policemen
n Egyptian protester next to a fire, throws stones towards riot police during a demonstration in Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 26, 2013. (AFP Photo/Mohhamed Abed)
Protests have been spreading throughout Egyptian cities since Thursday, prior to the sentencing. Opponents of Morsi have been gathering to mark the second anniversary on Friday of the beginning of the revolution that led to Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow.
Morsi has condemned the violence, and appealed for calm among the population. He has proposed “a broad national dialogue”, and Egypt’s army has been summoned to prevent any further escalation for the violence. However, his opposition believes that he has betrayed the economic and representative goals of the previous revolt.
"None of the revolution's goals have been realized," protester Mohamed Sami told Reuters.
“There’s a lot of anger towards the president – this started just at the end of last year when he pushed through what was seen as an unpopular constitution drafted by an Islamist dominated constituent assembly. People also say that he has not made any of the changes that were called for during the January 25 revolution two years ago, so he’s really lost quite a lot of legitimacy on the streets,” Trew said.
“Right now here in the capital there are clashes raging between protesters and security forces on the…lots of tear gas in the air here in down-town Cairo. Rocks have also been exchanged.”
“Security have upped up their presence around government buildings, as the focus of the anger here for protesters is very much against Morsi’s administration… the situation in Egypt really descends into a bit of a crisis”
Egyptian protesters carry a wounded man during a demonstration in Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 26, 2013. (AFP Photo/Mohhamed Abed)
A protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi throws stones at riot police during clashes along Mohamed Mahmoud street which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Al Ahly fans, also known as "Ultras", celebrate with local hand-made gun and shout slogans in front of the Al Ahly club after hearing the final verdict of the 2012 Port Said massacre in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi shout slogans during a fire at a French school along Mohamed Mahmoud street which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi flee from tear gas fired by riot police during clashes along Mohamed Mahmoud street which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
A protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi carries a wounded boy affected by tear gas during clashes along Mohamed Mahmoud street which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi damage the door of the French Lycee School (L) along Mohamed Mahmoud street, which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
A masked protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi sits near a burning table during clashes with riot police along Mohamed Mahmoud street, which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
A protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gestures at riot police during clashes as a fire (rear) is seen at the French Lycee School along Mohamed Mahmoud street, which leads to the Interior Ministry, near Tahrir Square in Cairo January 26, 2013. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Protesters against Egypt's President Mohammed Mursi run
from tear gas fired by riot police during clashes near Tahrir Square in Cairo on
27 January 2013. (Photo: Reuters - Asmaa Waguih)
Updated 11:15pm: President Mohammed Mursi Sunday declared a
state of emergency in three provinces hit by rioting which has left dozens
dead.
Emergency measures would come into effect in the provinces of Port Said, Suez and Ismailia "for 30 days starting at midnight (2200 GMT Sunday)," Mursi said in an address on state television.
Curfews would be imposed on the same three provinces from 9:00pm until 6:00am, he added.
Morsi's comments came after rioting sparked by death sentences being passed on football fans for deadly violence in 2012 rocked Port Said for a second straight day on Sunday.
Sunday's violence saw seven people shot dead and hundreds injured in the port city during the funerals of 33 protesters killed at the weekend, part of a wave of recent violence.
A total of 49 people have been killed in demonstrations around the country since Thursday and Mursi’s opponents have called for more protests on Monday.
"Down, down Mursi, down down the regime that killed and tortured us!" people in Port Said chanted as the coffins of those killed on Saturday were carried through the streets.
Port Said's head of hospitals, Abdel Rahman Farag, told Reuters an 18-year-old man and three other people died from gunshot wounds on Sunday. More than 429 people suffered from tear gas inhalation, while 38 were wounded by gunshots, he said.
Gunshots had killed many of the 33 who died on Saturday when residents went on the rampage after a court sentenced 21 people, mostly from the Mediterranean port, to death for their role in deadly soccer violence at a stadium there last year.
A military source said many people in Port Said, which lies next to the increasingly lawless Sinai Peninsula, possess guns. But it was not clear who was behind the deaths and injuries.
In Cairo, police fired tear gas at dozens of stone-throwing protesters in a fourth day of clashes over what demonstrators there and in other cities say is a power grab by Islamists two years after Hosni Mubarak was overthrown.
The protesters accuse Mursi, elected in June with the support of his Muslim Brotherhood group, of betraying the democratic goals of the revolution. Most of the deaths since Thursday were in Port Said and Suez, both cities where the army has now been deployed.
The violence adds to the daunting task facing Mursi as he tries to fix a beleaguered economy and cool tempers before a parliamentary election expected in the next few months which is supposed to cement Egypt's transition to democracy.
It has exposed a deep rift in the nation. Liberals and other opponents accuse Mursi of failing to deliver on economic promises and say he has not lived up to pledges to represent all Egyptians. His backers say the opposition is seeking to topple Egypt's first freely elected leader by undemocratic means.
The opposition Popular Current and other groups have called for more protests on Monday to mark what was one of the bloodiest days of the 2011 uprising.
The Popular Current, led by leftist Hamdeen Sabahy, said it "denounces the state of silence of the presidency and the government during the sad events that the country went through the past 48 hours."
On a bridge close to Tahrir Square, youths hurled stones at police in riot gear who fired tear gas to push them back towards the square, the cauldron of the uprising that erupted on January 25, 2011 and toppled Mubarak 18 days later.
"None of the revolution's goals have been realized," said Mohammed Sami, a protester in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday.
"Prices are going up. The blood of Egyptians is being spilt in the streets because of neglect and corruption and because the Muslim Brotherhood is ruling Egypt for their own interests."
Clashes also erupted in other streets near the square. The US and British embassies, both close to Tahrir, said they were closed for public business on Sunday, normally a working day.
The army, Egypt's interim ruler until Mursi's election, was sent back onto the streets to restore order in Port Said and Suez, which both lie on the Suez canal. In Suez, at least eight people were killed in clashes with police.
Egypt's defense minister who also heads the army, Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, called for the nation to stand together and said the military would not prevent peaceful protests. But he called on demonstrators to protect public property.
(Reuters, AFP, Al-Akhbar)
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Uprooted Palestinian 
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!
Emergency measures would come into effect in the provinces of Port Said, Suez and Ismailia "for 30 days starting at midnight (2200 GMT Sunday)," Mursi said in an address on state television.
Curfews would be imposed on the same three provinces from 9:00pm until 6:00am, he added.
Morsi's comments came after rioting sparked by death sentences being passed on football fans for deadly violence in 2012 rocked Port Said for a second straight day on Sunday.
Sunday's violence saw seven people shot dead and hundreds injured in the port city during the funerals of 33 protesters killed at the weekend, part of a wave of recent violence.
A total of 49 people have been killed in demonstrations around the country since Thursday and Mursi’s opponents have called for more protests on Monday.
"Down, down Mursi, down down the regime that killed and tortured us!" people in Port Said chanted as the coffins of those killed on Saturday were carried through the streets.
Port Said's head of hospitals, Abdel Rahman Farag, told Reuters an 18-year-old man and three other people died from gunshot wounds on Sunday. More than 429 people suffered from tear gas inhalation, while 38 were wounded by gunshots, he said.
Gunshots had killed many of the 33 who died on Saturday when residents went on the rampage after a court sentenced 21 people, mostly from the Mediterranean port, to death for their role in deadly soccer violence at a stadium there last year.
A military source said many people in Port Said, which lies next to the increasingly lawless Sinai Peninsula, possess guns. But it was not clear who was behind the deaths and injuries.
In Cairo, police fired tear gas at dozens of stone-throwing protesters in a fourth day of clashes over what demonstrators there and in other cities say is a power grab by Islamists two years after Hosni Mubarak was overthrown.
The protesters accuse Mursi, elected in June with the support of his Muslim Brotherhood group, of betraying the democratic goals of the revolution. Most of the deaths since Thursday were in Port Said and Suez, both cities where the army has now been deployed.
The violence adds to the daunting task facing Mursi as he tries to fix a beleaguered economy and cool tempers before a parliamentary election expected in the next few months which is supposed to cement Egypt's transition to democracy.
It has exposed a deep rift in the nation. Liberals and other opponents accuse Mursi of failing to deliver on economic promises and say he has not lived up to pledges to represent all Egyptians. His backers say the opposition is seeking to topple Egypt's first freely elected leader by undemocratic means.
The opposition Popular Current and other groups have called for more protests on Monday to mark what was one of the bloodiest days of the 2011 uprising.
The Popular Current, led by leftist Hamdeen Sabahy, said it "denounces the state of silence of the presidency and the government during the sad events that the country went through the past 48 hours."
On a bridge close to Tahrir Square, youths hurled stones at police in riot gear who fired tear gas to push them back towards the square, the cauldron of the uprising that erupted on January 25, 2011 and toppled Mubarak 18 days later.
"None of the revolution's goals have been realized," said Mohammed Sami, a protester in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday.
"Prices are going up. The blood of Egyptians is being spilt in the streets because of neglect and corruption and because the Muslim Brotherhood is ruling Egypt for their own interests."
Clashes also erupted in other streets near the square. The US and British embassies, both close to Tahrir, said they were closed for public business on Sunday, normally a working day.
The army, Egypt's interim ruler until Mursi's election, was sent back onto the streets to restore order in Port Said and Suez, which both lie on the Suez canal. In Suez, at least eight people were killed in clashes with police.
Egypt's defense minister who also heads the army, Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, called for the nation to stand together and said the military would not prevent peaceful protests. But he called on demonstrators to protect public property.
(Reuters, AFP, Al-Akhbar)
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian 
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!
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