Over 40 killed at pro-Mursi demonstration

08 July 2013

Muslim Brotherhood calls for uprising against military and Islamist party pulls out of negotiations on transitional government

At least 40 people have been killed at a demonstration by supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, prompting the Islamist Nour party to pull out of negotiations to form an interim government backed by the military.

The Muslim Brotherhood said in a statement that more than 53 people were killed and over 1,000 injured following dawn prayers on 8 July held outside the Republican Guard headquarters. The health ministry said that at least 40 were dead, while the army has confirmed that one officer had died.

The incident underscores the deepening rift between supporters of the former president and the military. In its statement, the Muslim Brotherhood said “the police and army attacked protesters with unprecedented violence,” while they prayed peacefully.

The army released a conflicting account. It said “an armed terrorist group made an attempt to attack the Republican Guard headquarters” and adding that “the police did not start shooting fire on Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators, but they only responded to the shooting from armed elements loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood”.

Supporters of Mursi have poured onto the streets of Egypt since he was removed from office by the military on 3 July. The latest deaths have led the Muslim Brotherhood to call for a new uprising across the country.

In an attempt to build some consensus around the army’s intervention it has tried to include a broad spectrum of opposition groups, including Islamists, secularists and Christians. The plans have faltered, and Nour has already rejected one candidate for interim prime minister. Its walkout from the talks will remove any involvement by Islamist parties.

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