Clashes return to streets of Cairo in another blow for Egypt

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Clashes return to streets of Cairo in another blow for Egypt

NBCNEWS.com

Asmaa Waguih / Reuters

A supporter of deposed Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi throws stones at police during clashes on the 6th October Bridge and Ramses square in central Cairo early on Tuesday.

By Ulf Laessing and Mike Collett-White, Reuters

CAIRO — Egyptian police and protesters clashed in central Cairo early on Tuesday after fights broke out between supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and locals angered when they tried to block major thoroughfares crossing the River Nile.
The MENA state news agency said at least 22 people were injured in the violence, which began just after 9 p.m. (3 p.m. ET) on Monday and lasted into the early hours of Tuesday.
The clashes were smaller and more localized than the earlier deadly unrest since Morsi was deposed by the military on July 3, and most of Cairo was unaffected.
Still, after a week of relative calm, scenes of running street battles close to the Egyptian Museum, one of the country's main tourist attractions, may raise further concerns about stability in the Arab world's most populous country.
"I've had enough of this chaos," said Ashraf Mohamed, who watched the clashes from a distance. "Egypt is just rubbish."
Young men, their mouths covered to protect them from tear gas, threw stones at police and shouted pro-Morsi and anti-military slogans, as well as "Allahu Akbar!" (God is greatest).
Military helicopters hovered overhead and police vans were brought in to quell the trouble, but when that didn't work, dozens of riot police moved in. Medics treated men with deep gashes to their eyes and faces nearby.
Mohamed's frustration echoed the view of millions of Egyptians who rallied for Morsi's resignation on June 30. The military said it deposed him to fulfill the wish of the people. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement said it was a coup.
"It's the army against the people, these are our soldiers, we have no weapons," said Alaa el-Din, a 34-year-old computer engineer, clutching a laptop.
"The army is killing our brothers, you are meant to defend me and you are attacking me. The army turned against the Egyptian people."
Egypt has become increasingly polarized by the crisis, but one thing the two sides share is a deep mistrust of the United States and its perceived role in the unrest.

BURNS SPURNED?

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns told reporters in Cairo that Washington had no desire to meddle in Egypt, which it supports with $1.5 billion in aid each year, most of which goes to the military.
"Only Egyptians can determine their future," Burns told reporters at the U.S. embassy. "I did not come with American solutions. Nor did I come to lecture anyone. We will not try to impose our model on Egypt."

Slideshow: Egypt's military ousts President Mohammed Morsi

Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Days of massive protests and a military ultimatum forced the country's first democratically elected president from office.

Launch slideshow

Washington, never comfortable with the rise of the Islamist Brotherhood, has so far refused to say whether it views Mursi's removal as a coup, which would require it to halt aid.
The Islamist Nour Party and the Tamarud anti-Morsi protest movement both said they turned down invitations to meet Burns.

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