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Clashes grip Egypt as Islamists split over Morsi
At least 30 people were killed and hundreds injured across Egypt during violent clashes between supporters and opponents of deposed President Mohammed Morsi, even as an Islamist coalition-led by Muslim Brotherhood vowed more protests in his support across the country.
The clashes broke out on Friday after tens of thousands of angry supporters of 61-year-old Morsi, chanting slogans like "down with military rule", took to the streets after Friday prayers demanding his reinstatement.
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Clashes grip Egypt as Islamists split over Morsi
In the capital, the protesters holding images of Morsi marched towards the Republican Guards Club, where Morsi is believed to have been put "under guard" since Wednesday night.
Despite warning from soldiers, the crowd tried to storm the guards headquarters, prompting the soldiers to open fire -- first into the air, then at the demonstrators, killing four demonstrators and wounding dozens, local media reported.
In running street battles in Cairo, several more people were dead, including two at iconic Tahrir Sqaure, and scores of others injured, reports said.
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Clashes grip Egypt as Islamists split over Morsi
The worst hit was coastal city of Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt, where street fighting and clashes left 12 people dead, mostly from gunshot wounds.
Meanwhile, Brotherhood-led National Alliance in Support of Electoral Legitimacy on Saturday vowed more protests in support of the deposed president.
"The masses will continue their civilised protests and peaceful sit ins in Cairo until the military coup is reversed and the legitimate president is restored," it said.
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Clashes grip Egypt as Islamists split over Morsi
Morsi was toppled by the powerful military on Wednesday and since has been kept under detention along with some senior aides of his Muslim Brotherhood party.
Friday's clashes raged across Egypt after Brotherhood supreme leader Mohammed Badie told his followers not to give up street action until the reinstatement of Morsi.
"We are his soldiers we defend him with our lives," Badie told supporters at a Cairo mosque in his first appearance since the overthrow of the Morsi government.
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Clashes grip Egypt as Islamists split over Morsi
In the North Sinai town of El Arish, five police officers were killed. It was, however, not clear whether the attacks were linked to pro-Morsi protests.
Earlier, the powerful army had appealed for conciliation and warned against revenge attacks as violent clashes continued overnight.
In a statement, the armed forces warned against "falling into an endless circle of revenge," saying it was keen to avoid any extraordinary or arbitrary measures against any faction or political movement, Al-Arabia reported on Friday.
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Clashes grip Egypt as Islamists split over Morsi
"Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed to everyone," according to the army's statement.
However, it warned that "excessive use of this right without reason could carry some negative implications, including blocking roads, delaying public benefits and destroying institutions, posing a threat to social peace, the national interest and damaging the security and economy."
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Clashes grip Egypt as Islamists split over Morsi
Soon after Morsi's ouster, a number of Islamist-linked television stations were taken off air and top Brotherhood leaders, including its supreme leader Mohammed Badie and former chairman Mahdi Aakef, were arrested.
Meanwhile, newly sworn-in interim president Adly Mansour made an attempt to heal the relationship with the Brotherhood, saying, "The Muslim Brotherhood are part of this people and are invited to participate in building the nation as nobody will be excluded."
Sixty-seven-year-old Mansour has also issued a decree appointing Judge Aly Aoud Saleh as his constitutional advisor and Judge Mostafa Hegazy as his political advisor. Besides, Mansour, the top judge of Egypt's high constitutional court, has pledged to hold elections based on "the genuine people's will".
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