In a shocking incident, at least 74 people were killed and nearly 250 injured in Egypt's worst-ever soccer violence that saw pitched battles between armed rival football fans in the city of Port Said.
The unprecedented violence occurred last evening following a soccer match between top-tier clubs al-Masry and al-Ahly as fans invaded the pitch after Port Said club al- Masry won 3-1.
Three days of national mourning have been declared in Egypt and all premier-league matches have been postponed indefinitely.
Emergency meetings of the cabinet and parliament have been called.
Hours after the incident, protesters in Cairo chanted, "Down with military rule." And the secretary-general of the Muslim Brotherhood party blamed Egypt's military for the deaths.
Egypt's interior ministry blamed fans for provoking police.
It said in a statement that 74 people died, including one police officer, and 248 were injured, 14 of them police. It 47 people have been arrested for links to the violence.
Witnesses quoted by the media said the atmosphere had been tense throughout the match - since an al-Ahly fan raised a banner insulting supporters of the home team.
As the match ended, their fans flooded onto the pitch attacking al-Ahly players and fans.
A committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the fighting, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said in a statement.
Angry crowds closed off Cairo's Tahrir Square and state TV today, ahead of protests against the way police handled the riots.