One dead, 26 injured as protests sweep Egypt

One dead, 26 injured as protests sweep Egypt

Published: 16 February, 2013, 08:09

RT

A protestor wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, trademark of the anonymous movement and based on a character in the film V for Vendetta, is sprayed by water as Egyptian security use water cannons to disperse anti-government protestors as they throw stones into the grounds of the al-Kobaa Presidential palace in Cairo, on February 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / Mohammed El-Shahed)

Cairo police have unleashed water cannons and tear gas to disperse a crowd of protesters in front of the presidential palace. At least one person has been killed and dozens injured in clashes across Egypt.

Clashes in Cairo broke out after anti-government demonstrators attacked the presidential palace with stones and fire bombs. Police moved, in deploying water cannons and shooting gas canisters at the raging crowd.

At least 13 people have been injured in front of the palace, Health Ministry spokesman Ahmed Omar told Xinhua. Another 13 were wounded in clashes elsewhere across Cairo, he added.

Clashes have also been reported in Alexandria, another volatile Egyptian city, and in several cities across the governorate of Gharbiya, where protesters blocked the roads and pelted the Mahalla City Council with Molotov cocktails, Ahram online reported.

“One was killed in Gharbiya governorate [80 km north of Cairo] when a vehicle hit him during an anti-government protest,” Omar said.

Earlier in the day, pro-government group al-Jamaa al-Islamiya staged a rally in a square near near Cairo University. Thousands of Islamists reaffirmed their support for President Mohamed Morsi and voiced their rejection of violence.

At the same time, opposition groups rallied at Tahrir square and near the presidential palace in downtown Cairo.

Egyptian security use water cannons to disperse anti-government protestors as they scale the gates and throw stones into the grounds of the al-Kobaa Presidential palace in Cairo, on February 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / Mohammed El-Shahed)

Egyptian security use water cannons to disperse anti-government protestors as they throw stones into the grounds of the al-Kobaa Presidential palace in Cairo, on February 15, 2013 (AFP Photo / Mohammed El-Shahed)

Egyptian al-Ahly football club supporters (Ultras) march to the Ministry of Defence in Cairo on February 15, 2013 to demand the trial of former SCAF (Supreme Council of Armed Forces) high-ranking members to avenge the killing of their comrades during previous clashes with police and military (AFP Photo)

Egyptian al-Ahly football club supporters (Ultras) march to the Ministry of Defence in Cairo on February 15, 2013 to demand the trial of former SCAF (Supreme Council of Armed Forces) high-ranking members to avenge the killing of their comrades during previous clashes with police and military (AFP Photo)