At least two people were killed and 200 wounded on Wednesday after clashes between supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, security and health officials said.
Al Arabiya’s Cairo office reported that the 52-year-old man who died during the fighting in the coastal city of Mansoura, north of the Capital, is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Witnesses heard gunfire and state television showed a man in hospital with birdshot wounds.
Violence erupted when Mursi’s opponents pelted supporters of the president with garbage outside a mosque where they had gathered to stage a pro-regime march.
Clashes were also reported in Egypt’s second city of Alexandria, where supporters and foes of the Islamist president threw rocks and fired shotguns early on Thursday, Reuters reported.
A Reuters reporter saw dozens of youths approach a rally of Mursi’s supporters in the Mediterranean port and the two sides then fought. There was no immediate information on casualties.
Clashes between the two sides have grown in frequency over the past few days during the buildup to the June 30 protests by the Egyptian opposition, which is looking to oust Mursi from power.
Toppling the government
Meanwhile, in a televised speech Mursi accused former regime members of attempting to block Egypt from moving forward.
“I understand differences with the opposition, but I reject its involvement in acting against the revolution,” he told a live audience.
He said leading opposition figures were bidding to topple the government, currently headed by the Muslim Brotherhood movement.
The leader, who heads the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, said “there is only one revolution” in Egypt, but acknowledged that it may be time for reforms.
Mursi said “some ignored the hand that believes in dialogue,” referring to the objection by certain opposition figures for talks.