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Wednesday, August 14, 2013
All hell is breaking loose in the Egyptian capital of Cairo once again as security forces try and clear out Morsi supporters from various areas around the city. The protests and clashes have also spread around the country. Egyptian security forces dressed in riot gear riding in armored vehicles and bulldozers began clearing two protest camps in Cairo, which ignited clashes with pro-Morsi supporters.
According to the latest report, more than 50 people have died as a result of Wednesday’s clashes and the body count is expected to rise. One of those killed was Mick Deane, a cameraman for Sky News.
The Muslim Brotherhood is fighting back and in the space of an hour reports from all over the city had the Muslim Brotherhood leaving a path of destruction across Cairo. At the Tabeen police station a pro-Morsi group set the station on fire and released the prisoners; 12 police officers and five pro-Morsi supports were injured in this attack.
Over in Helwan, a suburb of Cairo, Morsi supporters broke into the metro station, destroyed the equipment, and attacked security forces. A pro-Morsi group allegedly cut off Abo Zaabl Road in Qalyoubeya and set fire in car tires where Abo Zaabal prison is located. Battles between the police force and Morsi supporters intensified as the police tried to stip attempts to break into the prison. Emergency status has been declared in the area.
Petroleum Africa’s on-the-ground staff in Cairo say that the suburb of Maadi, traditionally left out of the majority of the trouble taking place, has been cut off from the rest of Cairo as authorities block off all exits out of the suburb. There was also a big demonstration in the tourist town of Hurghada on the Red Sea.
Meanwhile, Mohamed El Baradei resigned as vice president of the interim government in protest of the crackdowns. El Baradei said he saw “peaceful” alternatives to dispersing the sit-ins, “but things became what they became,” continuing with “I cannot be responsible for one drop of blood in front of God, and then in front of my conscience, especially with my faith that we could have avoided it.”
The government declared a State of Emergency would beginning at 16:00 local time on August 14. It is thought that it will last around one month, and is a direct result of the rapidly deteriorating security situation across the country. During this period it is expected that banks, schools, public buildings and many other services will be closed until the situation has been brought under control.
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