E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Khalil Hamra / AP
Protesters help a wounded man during clashes with security forces near the Interior Ministry in downtown Cairo on Friday.
Updated at 10:05 a.m. ET: CAIRO -- The Associated Press is reporting that police in Cairo fired salvos of tear gas and birdshot at rock-throwing protesters as popular anger over a deadly soccer riot spilled over into a second day of street violence that left three people dead and more than 1,500 injured, doctors and health officials said.
The protesters blame the police for failing to prevent the melee after a soccer match in the Mediterranean city of Port Said on Wednesday killed 74 people. The violence — the soccer world's worst in 15 years — has fueled anger at Egypt's ruling military generals and the already widely distrusted police force.
"I came down because what happened in Port Said was a political plan from the military to say it's either them or chaos," 19-year-old Islam Muharram told The Associated Press.
NBC: Two Americans kidnapped in Egypt released
Demonstrators in Cairo, the city of Suez and several Nile Delta cities on Friday turned their anger on the military, calling for it to surrender power because of what they say is the ruling generals' mismanagement of the country's transition to democracy.
In the capital, protesters in helmets and gas masks hurled stones at riot police firing tear gas outside the Interior Ministry, which controls the police. The demonstrators say they don't want to storm the ministry, but to hold a sit-in in front of it to protest the soccer deaths.
More photos: Street battle rages near Egypt's Interior Ministry
Many protesters have suggested the authorities either instigated the Port Said violence or intentionally allowed it to happen to retaliate for the key role soccer fans known as Ultras had in clashes with security forces during the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
The Cairo violence began late Thursday and escalated overnight, with protesters pushing through the barricades erected around the fortress-like ministry building and bringing down a wall of concrete blocks erected outside the ministry two months ago, after similar violence left more than 40 protesters dead.
The death toll from Friday's violence stood at three.
Thousands of people poured into Cairo's Tahrir Square, where tear gas was used to disperse the crowd. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Original post: Protesters laid siege to Egypt's Interior Ministry on Friday, pushing their protest against the military-led government into a second day in a show of anger triggered by the deaths of 74 people in the country's worst soccer disaster.
One person died in Cairo from a shotgun pellet wound and two were killed in the city of Suez as police used live rounds to hold back crowds trying to break into a police station, witnesses and the ambulance authority said.
The demonstrations erupted following the deaths at a soccer stadium in Port Said. Most of those killed were crushed to death in a stampede but protesters hold the military-led authorities responsible.
Story: 2 dead, 600 hurt in protests after soccer riot
Several thousand protesters threw rocks towards the ministry building in central Cairo through the night. Security forces fired tear gas but the protesters continually regrouped.
Of the few vehicles in the usually congested downtown area, most were ambulances that ferried casualties from the clashes.
By Friday morning, a hard core of demonstrators had heaved aside a concrete barrier blocking a main road near the ministry to take closer aim at the building. A Reuters witness heard firing and found gun pellets on the ground.
"We will stay until we get our rights. Did you see what happened in Port Said?" said 22-year-old Abu Hanafy, who arrived from work on Thursday evening and decided to join the protest.
PhotoBlog: Chaotic scenes as injured soccer fans return to Cairo
Revolutionary youth groups were calling for a mass weekend protest named the "Friday of Anger." By late morning, a few hundred people had joined protesters who slept overnight in Cairo's central Tahrir Square.
Ambulances had to intervene overnight to extract riot police whose truck took a wrong turn into a street full of protesters.
Protesters surrounded the vehicle for at least 45 minutes, rocking it while the police were inside. Some of the demonstrators then formed a human corridor to help them escape.
Close to 400 people have been hurt in the confrontations that erupted late on Thursday, the health ministry said, many of them suffering from inhaling tear gas fired by riot police who the Interior Ministry said were protecting the building.
Story: 'People are dying in front of us': Scores killed in riots after Egypt soccer match
In Suez, witnesses said fighting broke out at a local police station in the early hours of Friday. "We received two corpses of protesters shot dead by live ammunition," said a doctor at a morgue where the bodies were kept.
A witness said: "Protesters are trying to break into the Suez police station and police are now firing live ammunition."
The soccer stadium deaths have heaped new criticism on the military council, which has governed Egypt since Mubarak stepped down a year ago in the face of mass protests. Critics regard them as part of his administration and an obstacle to change.
The army leadership, in turn, has presented itself as the guardian of the "January 25 revolution." It has promised to hand power to an elected president by the end of June.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Ex-Khmer Rouge prison chief gets life in prison
- Panetta report fuels concerns that Israel will attack Iran
- 2 dead, 600 hurt in protests after soccer riots
- White House: No decision yet on end to combat in Afghanistan
- London landlords evict tenants to gouge tourists?
- Defiant Chinese village takes steps toward democracy
Leave a Comment:
Egyptian soccer fans and demonstrators have the mass (mob)mentality that is wreaking havoc . The soccer fans had knives and the melee and stampede after the favorite's loss 3-1 al-Alhi vs.al Masri in Port Said was initiated by the losing side soccer fans- a crowd so easily excitable and uncontrollable - and blaming the army for soccer stadium's lack of security and mob control is the seed planted by agitators in the crowd- whether the noirs or others does not hold water. Security measures were non existent. Now the mob is at the gates of tghe Interior Ministry in Cairo demanding immediate ouster of the army (interim g'ment)- isn't this a sure sign that there are the agitators on behalf of some party to gain control/advantage and the mallable,gullible and naive revolutionary young people without a job,without a future are the disposables when the real party takes over?
Mimi, How are they any different than the mob mentality dislayed at our own sporting events?
Do you think our revolution consisted of roses and kisses between the British Army and American Colonists?
Even Thomas Jefferson worried for any nation that didn't revolt from time to time, especially ours so to remind the government who was boss---this was the intent behind the 2nd Amendment by the way.
I'm taking my eldest son, a Political Science major to Egypt and Spain in early June for his college graduation present as he wants to test out his arabic and spanish speaking skills he learned through HS and College. Although very concerned about the situation, he stated vehemently that this would also be a great life learning experience for him---witnessing a true revolt and then analyzing the reasons behind the situation and coming to his own conclusion. I'm so proud I raised a Critial Thinker!
I despise the arm chair quarterback American vitriol that plagues these comment sections today. Listening to so many of these juvenile comments by so-called over events they're totally clueless because they themselves wouldn't have the guts to do what the Colonists did in the 1700's. Geesh our education system has truly detiorated past the point of idiocity.
You are so right !
Spry, your logic has me totally baffled. You are willing to put your son into a violent situation because a nation that is in turmoil would be a "great life learning experience" for him? Really? All because our nation fought the Brits for freedom and the American Colonists had "Guts"? Plus you think that it's wise for your son to witness a "true revolt" in a Muslim country where they HATE Americans? This is not an educational experience, this is suicide! As a parent, you should want to keep your children safe. But, if your son truly wants to have an "experience" let him enter our armed forces. Or does he not have the "guts" to do that? He would certainly get experience in speaking the arabic language and use his critical thinking skills while fighting our enemies. He will get to see real revolts, strife, and death. That should give him all the experience he needs and wants for a lifetime.
AC/DC would sing; "Muslims like TNT. They like dyanamite. TNT, and they love to fight. TNT they plant explosive loads. TNT...... watch them explode!"
Spry, take your head down to the repair shop and get the screws tightened.
Actually , Spry's head is in the right place. It's a very bold to behave/think in this manner however as Lady Devonworth pointed out there exists an inherent risk. Majority of us (including myself) are sometimes quick to judgement, we tend to avoid the "righteous path" because it's too damn hard. I sincerely wish Spry's son a safe and enlightened journey in his quest for a better understanding.
The problem with Spry, is that if something goes terribly wrong, the US will be on the hook to retrieve him. You are knowingly going in to chaos, but you also will want to be saved if necessary. I would have respect for your decision if you don't call on us to save you.
Egypt needs Mubarak,this is the future under the muslim brotherhood.Under the muslim brotherhood Egypt will continue its warlike ways with Israel.
Egypt's problems are larger than lack-of-democracy. Egypt's democratic solution (stricter Islamic doctrine) is a recipe for certain disaster. If we consider Egypt's population demographics and the arable inhabitable land, the density is 81000000/21,200 or 3820 people per square mile (1540 per sq km). They have resource depletion, economic stagnation, and an unsustainable growth rate of 2%. They have an aggressive religion that has no precept of birth control. The Imams would reject any concept of sex education, family planning or birth control taught in the schools.
Perhaps they have forgotten that the real and true prophets are not the ancient religious kind, but the modern scientists, demographers, agriculturalists, engineers and architects who will lead them to a better path. One of the most profound prophets for Eqypt of all time was an American engineer named Frank Shuman. Egypt needs to revisit his message. He saw a future for Egypt over 100 years ago and nobody listened.
Egypt now is like a plane being flown by a pilot who doesn't know how to land.
It always goes back to population control, doesn't it?
How many children brown people have in other parts of the world is none of your business.
TekKnowlege
It is my business if I am careful to manage my own, but somebody else intrudes by not managing theirs. It doesn't matter if they are brown or white, overpopulation will lead to resourse scarcity famine and aggression. This is a fact. The Egyptian population grows by 1.6 million people each year. How long can that last? not much longer.
What kind of people go to a sports event armed with knives and rocks? What kind of people refuse to accept responsibility for their belligerent en masse behavior and then blame the security people for not preventing it or protecting them? What kind of people then use their own riot as a focus of violent protest at a government building which leads to more people injured? America's friends in the Middle East, of course.
Egyptians: The government is not your father to take up your cause when you are being bullied. It IS the bully.
Americans: The government is not your mother to wipe your tears when the bully takes away your toys and gives them to someone else. It IS the bully.
Some people never learn. The only friend you have is after what you want or what you have. He'll help you to his own end.
Ah. The smell of "Freedom". Now they're having to live (and die) with one another. But why vote when you can riot and occupy? It works for Wisconsin.
Ah, the smell of "success"
Obama's decision in February to abandon then-president Hosni Mubarak, the US's most dependable ally in the Arab world, in favor of the protesters in Tahrir Square was hailed by Obama's supporters as a victory for democracy and freedom against tyranny. By supportingthe protesters against the US ally, Obama argued that he was advancing US interests by showing the Muslim world the US favored the people over their leaders.
Ten months later, the Egyptian people has responded to this populist policy by giving jihadist parties a two-thirds majority in parliamentary elections. For the first time in 30 years, the strategic anchor of US power in the Arab world – the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty – is in danger. Indeed, there is no reason to believe it will survive
Key term: populist policy Sound familiar??
Most people with any sanity knew Egypt would vote in the Brotherhood. The WH didn't think so. Good luck having a relationship with Egypt. Mubarak will look very good to many a year from now.
So THIS is where American Tourists travel???......They SHOULD be kidnapped. For STUPIDITY.
Can someone explain why America spent all those $$$ Billions on "Arab Spring?"
Because Hilldog and the rest of the current administration are morons who have about as much experience when it comes to regime change decisions and international diplomacy as I do with jet propulsion and nuclear fusion. If the goal was to somehow screw everything up to the point where these people were better off under brutal dictatorships; mission accomplished.
For the same reason that we in the U.S. have spent $3 billion annually inl U.S. foreign aid to Israel. Before you bash the Arabs, do some research about our one sided friendship with Israel. There are plenty of figures on Google or check:
Arab Spring smells as good as OWS...Brought to you by the same people.
Damn those Mexicans! Next thing you know they'll be coming to the US to work in our restaurant and agricultural industries - taking all the GOOD jobs away from Americans!!!!
Unless they're going to start handing out shovels and paying the vast numbers of unemployed civilians a daily wage to dig a hole somewhere out in the desert under the pretense of starting a new Canal; the country of Egypt is pretty much screwed b/c these people have absolutely nothing to do but kill each other, procreate and riot over whatever is on their mind on any given day.
Nothing will change even if they do manage to somehow transition to a civilian government because the exact same problems will exist and the civilian government will have the same lack of options that the current military leaders have.
Removing Mubarak was a mistake, just like it was a mistake to remove Saddam and Gaddafi. As bad as the civilian populations had it under the aforementioned dictators, it likely wasn't half as bad as what's to come in their absence.
Keep bashing Muslims and Islam but when it was the Christian crusades that killed more Muslims than Muslims killing Christians, nobody is commenting. When La Guerra de Fútbol "Soccer War" lasted 4 days between El Salvador & Honduras resulting in almost 3,000 deaths, we hear nothing from our so called Evangelical friends. I'm Christian but I refuse to generalize and hate others because of a few bad apples. Look at our own history first. Fox smells its own hole first. Leave the judging to God.
I was in Cairo for a protest and a Soccer game broke out!
Dam! I missed the riots when the Steelers lost in the playoffs!
Democracy at its best. they never new how good they had it under a dictator.
Let them crazy bastards get what they deserve , let them kill each other off , less Muslim sons of Satan to worry about good riddance
So now they're rioting over RIOTS? That's kind of a bad precedent, there. Where does it end?
At least these deaths make slightly more sense. Being shot to death by security is more reasonable than being trampled at a soccer game. Though I suppose it doesn't really make a difference to the person killed, does it?
Egypt will never be democratic in the sense the West thinks of democracy. Not even close. Islam and democracy are incompatible. It is much, much more than a religion. It is an expansionist, socio-political ideology in fact,with strict laws that govern virtually every facet of daily life. Moreover, I believe the West, in attempting to be SO "politically correct" ignores the message to Islamic societies/regimes around the world that Islam is more a Totalitarian ideology as it is a "religion," per se. Muslims can only fully participate in democratic society provided they treat Islam as a matter of personal, private belief and not as a political ideology that seeks to monopolize the public space and regulate every aspect of individual and community life. Democracy, of course, is compatible with Islam because democracy is serial and polytheistic. People are free to believe whatever they like to believe and perform whatever religious rituals they wish, provided they do not infringe on other's freedoms in the public domain. The other way round, however, it does not work. Islam cannot allow people to do as they please , even in the privacy of their bedrooms, because God is always present, everywhere, all-hearing and all-seeing. Depriving Islam of critical scrutiny is bad for Islam and Muslims, and ultimately dangerous for the whole world. The debate is about how to organize the global public space that is shared by the whole humanity. That space must be religion-neutral and free of ideology, which means organized on the basis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
There are 57 nations in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Not one is yet a true democracy.
"It is much, much more than a religion. It is an expansionist, socio-political ideology in fact,with strict laws that govern virtually every facet of daily life"
How is that "much much more than a religion?" That's basically the definition of religion in and of itself. We just don't think of it that way because American Christians are just the "letter of the law" type Christians, who like to pick and choose what tenets they follow based on what is convenient and on what is popular in politics at the moment. A real Christian has just as many stupid senseless rules governing their everyday life as a Muslim. Christianity tells you what you can and can't eat, whom you can and can't sleep with, when you can sleep with them, who you can marry, what you can and can't say, etc. Don't be a hypocrite.
Bomb the whole p. o. s. country
Maybe we should just move in McDonalds and TacoBell into the region and call it a day. Between the "pink goo" in the hamburgers and the ecoli in the tacos they'll be too lethargic to riot.
Be real this isnt a freedom fight this is chaos over a soccer match, and the crusades were not christians invading muslims it was christians stoping the muslims from invading more land!
"There were riots and people were killed! To protest these senseless deaths, I'm going to riot and kill people!"
See, Middle East, that's why no one takes you seriously.
These stories and the ones out of Syria make me smile. Let them kill each other. Saves us the trouble. Keep burning those American flags, throw rocks at each other, and kill yourselves en mass.
The injured guy reminds me of Kelso from the 70's show; "Oh my eye!"
The biggest problem facing Egypt is the fact that it has been infiltrated and overtaken by the cult of death, destruction, and hate called "Islam", which indicates without exception that this fanatic barbarism will continue ad nauseam on a daily basis until the cult of death, destruction, and hate called "Islam" is removed from the universe forever either by (a) common sense or (b) the swift and intense application of advanced thermodynamic physics . . .
Burn a Qur'an and barbecue Bull's-Eye® Memphis Style pork ribs for Elvis and Jesus!™