Hundreds of protesters massed near the Port Said SecurityDirectorate and lobbed stones and firebombs at security forces, whoresponded by firing teargas and warning shots into the air.Earlier in the day, a group of protesters fell on the portcity’s branch of the National Security Agency, setting thebuilding’s garage on fire with Molotov cocktails. Armed Forcesvehicles were deployed to the scene, which proceeded to fire liveshots to disperse the demonstrators.A tank was later stationed outside the building, while armoredvehicles patrolled the surrounding neighborhood.Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi ordered police forces towithdraw following three weeks of strikes and protests in the citywhich boiled over on Sunday.The president is considering whether to give the military fullcontrol of the restive Suez Canal city, officials said on Tuesday.This might come in the wake of riot police getting accused ofexcessive use of force as well as reports of rising tensionsbetween the army and police.The military was called in to restore order in Port Said onSunday as clashes left three police officers and three protestersdead. Troops attempting to halt the fighting between police andprotesters were reportedly swamped by teargas, and one army colonelwas wounded by live fire. At one point, the army fired live roundsover the heads of the police, a move which was met with cheers fromprotesters.At least 586 people have been injured in the latest round ofviolence, 16 of whom were hit with live rounds and another 27 withbirdshot, Ahmed Sultan, head of emergency services, told AFP.Port Said, which extends along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast north ofthe Suez Canal, has been the scene of regular street battles sincea court issued death sentences against 21 people implicated in adeadly February 2012 soccer riot, which left 72 people dead.The verdict ignited fierce clashes between protesters and policewhich left more than 40 dead, including two police officers.The latest spate of violence was ignited when Egypt’s InteriorMinistry decided to transfer dozens of prisoners charged over thesoccer riots out of the city in order to avoid moreconfrontations.The second phase of the Port Said trial set to commence onSaturday, as the remaining 39 defendants will be issued verdicts inthe case. … Read More
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