Egypt’s Morsi ‘mulling’ army takeover of restive Port Said

March 5th, 2013

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Egyptian protesters stand near burning tyres outside the main security headquarters in the canal city of Port Said early on March 5, 2013. (AFP Photo)

Clashes continue in Port Said as security forces fired shots into the air and deployed teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters. Egypt’s president ordered police to withdraw from the streets, leaving the army to restore order in the city.

Hundreds of protesters massed near the Port Said Security
Directorate and lobbed stones and firebombs at security forces, who
responded by firing teargas and warning shots into the air.

Earlier in the day, a group of protesters fell on the port
city’s branch of the National Security Agency, setting the
building’s garage on fire with Molotov cocktails. Armed Forces
vehicles were deployed to the scene, which proceeded to fire live
shots to disperse the demonstrators.

A tank was later stationed outside the building, while armored
vehicles patrolled the surrounding neighborhood.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi ordered police forces to
withdraw following three weeks of strikes and protests in the city
which boiled over on Sunday.

The president is considering whether to give the military full
control of the restive Suez Canal city, officials said on Tuesday.
This might come in the wake of riot police getting accused of
excessive use of force as well as reports of rising tensions
between the army and police.

The military was called in to restore order in Port Said on
Sunday as clashes left three police officers and three protesters
dead. Troops attempting to halt the fighting between police and
protesters were reportedly swamped by teargas, and one army colonel
was wounded by live fire. At one point, the army fired live rounds
over the heads of the police, a move which was met with cheers from
protesters.

Egyptian protesters gather outside the main security headquarters in the canal city of Port Said early on March 5, 2013. (AFP Photo)

A protester, who opposes Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, shows empty teargas canisters during clashes with riot police in front of Security Directorate of Port Said after protesters started to set fire to it in Port Said city, 170 km (106 miles) northeast of Cairo March 5, 2013. (Reuters / Amr Dalsh)

At least 586 people have been injured in the latest round of
violence, 16 of whom were hit with live rounds and another 27 with
birdshot, Ahmed Sultan, head of emergency services, told AFP.

Port Said, which extends along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast north of
the Suez Canal, has been the scene of regular street battles since
a court issued death sentences against 21 people implicated in a
deadly February 2012 soccer riot, which left 72 people dead.

The verdict ignited fierce clashes between protesters and police
which left more than 40 dead, including two police officers.

The latest spate of violence was ignited when Egypt’s Interior
Ministry decided to transfer dozens of prisoners charged over the
soccer riots out of the city in order to avoid more
confrontations.

The second phase of the Port Said trial set to commence on
Saturday, as the remaining 39 defendants will be issued verdicts in
the case.

An army soldier (front) and protesters, who oppose Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, flee from teargas fired by riot police during clashes in front of Security Directorate of Port Said after protesters started to set fire to it in Port Said city, 170 km (106 miles) northeast of Cairo March 5, 2013. (Reuters / Amr Dalsh)