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Pro-Morsi Islamist marchers hit streets in Egypt, three killed

The incident took place as Islamist members of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood marched towards the the Republican Guards Club

Press Trust of India Cairo
Thousands of angry supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, chanting slogans like "down with military rule", today took to the streets after Friday prayers demanding his reinstatement, as soldiers opened fire to chase them away, killing at least three people.

The incident took place as Islamist members of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood marched towards the the Republican Guards Club here, where the Arab nation's first democratically elected president has been put "under guard" since Wednesday night.

Despite warning from soldiers not to cross the road, the crowd got angrier and tried to storm the Republican Guard headquarters, prompting the security forces to open fire - first into the air, then at the demonstrators.
 
The demonstrators, who held up images of Morsi, denounced the statement from the General Command of the Armed Forces, chanting: "Down with Sissi", "Down with military rule," and "Islamic."

At the iconic Tahrir Square, supporters of the new army-backed interim government held their own demonstration.

Earlier, the powerful army has appealed for conciliation and warned against revenge attacks as violent clashes continued overnight.

After the armed forces removed 61-year-old Morsi on Wednesday night, at least 14 people have been killed and over 500 injured in clashes across the country, according to figures issued by the Health Ministry.

Thousands of demonstrators have marched after the 'National Alliance in Support of Electoral Legitimacy' asked its supporters "to mobilise in peaceful mass marches in all liberty squares and streets of Egypt, to be started from all mosques, after Friday prayers, to reject the heinous coup against popular will.

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First Published: Jul 05 2013 | 8:25 PM IST

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