Egypt: scores dead in clashes amid rival demonstrations

Scores  have been killed and dozens hurt in Egypt in clashes between police and supporters of the deposed Mohammed Morsi,according to BBC.

More than 200 members of his “Muslim Brotherhood”  were arrested in Cairo, where 26 of the deaths were reported.

Supporters of Morsi marched in several cities, as the military-backed government marked the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Hundreds of people had gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to celebrate the anniversary.

Jets and Apache helicopters flew overhead in formation, as part of a grand display of military hardware by the government.

The crowd cheered the flypasts, a number of people carrying portraits of defence chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Some want him to stand as Egypt’s next president.

But the BBC’s Quentin Sommerville in Cairo says supporters of Morsi also took to the streets, trying to make their way to the square .

Security forces used tear gas and fired into the air to stop them.

Supporters and opponents of Egypt’s ousted Mohammed Morsi clash in Cairo The rival protests in Cairo turned into running street battles

Egyptians, one holding a poster of General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, pose with soldiers as they gather on Tahrir Square to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war Supporters of the military have been converging on Tahrir Square to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war

A man carries a poster of ousted Mohammed Morsi, calling for his trial as people gather to mark the 40th anniversary of the Arab-Israeli war Egyptian society remains polarized by the military overthrow of Morsi in July.

The street battles raged for hours, with small fires burning and black smoke rising in several parts of the capital.

But the military succeeded in keeping the rival supporters apart, our correspondent says.

The interior ministry earlier warned it would confront any “attempts that may disturb the 6 October celebrations”, the Mena state news agency reported.

In a televised address, Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi described it as a “critical time” for the country and urged Egyptians to “stand together, be optimistic about the future”.

The health ministry said that in addition to the Cairo deaths, one person was killed in Delga, about 300km (190 miles) south of Cairo, and another in Bani Suef, 80km south of the capital.

M.D