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Egypt football riot: Tension in Cairo as protests loom Egypt football riot: Port Said officials sacked
(about 2 hours later)
Crowds are gathering in Cairo as tension rises after riots in the city of Port Said on Wednesday which left at least 74 people dead. Senior officials in the Egyptian city of Port Said and the Egyptian football association have been sacked in the wake of riots on Wednesday in which at least 74 people were killed.
Angry fans blocked Tahrir Square. Others are marching in protest at the handling of the riots by police. The governor of Port Said resigned, while the city's director of security and head of investigations were suspended and are now in custody.
Three days of national mourning were declared over the riot, in which fans invaded the pitch after a football match involving top Cairo club al-Ahly. In Cairo people are marching in protest at the handling of the riots by police.
The cabinet and parliament are meeting, and Port Said's governor has resigned. Three days of national mourning have been declared.
Egypt's public prosecutor has ordered the questioning of 52 people arrested after the riots, as well as the Port Said governor and the city's security chief, who was sacked earlier. The riot began when fans invaded the pitch after a football match involving top Cairo club al-Ahly and the Port Said side al-Masry.
'Work of the devil'
Even as the violence was continuing at the Port Said football ground, Egyptians began suspecting, wondering if darker forces were at play.Even as the violence was continuing at the Port Said football ground, Egyptians began suspecting, wondering if darker forces were at play.
The Muslim Brotherhood, now the largest party in parliament, accused remnants of the Mubarak regime of provoking the riot in an attempt to reduce the country to chaos.The Muslim Brotherhood, now the largest party in parliament, accused remnants of the Mubarak regime of provoking the riot in an attempt to reduce the country to chaos.
Egyptian football fans can be notoriously violent. But what immediately aroused suspicions is the fact that the al-Ahly supporters, known as Ultras, have become a political force as well. They have been at the forefront of many of the big confrontations with security forces in the last year.Egyptian football fans can be notoriously violent. But what immediately aroused suspicions is the fact that the al-Ahly supporters, known as Ultras, have become a political force as well. They have been at the forefront of many of the big confrontations with security forces in the last year.
What really happened at the Port Said stadium may never fully be known. It's just as likely to have been a case of incompetence, from a police force which has been seriously under strength since they were chased off the streets in the revolution a year ago.What really happened at the Port Said stadium may never fully be known. It's just as likely to have been a case of incompetence, from a police force which has been seriously under strength since they were chased off the streets in the revolution a year ago.
The immediate danger for the Egyptian authorities is of new violence, as angry football supporters take to the streets once again. But this has also provoked a new political crisis, undermining trust in the ruling military council, at a time when Egypt is moving towards presidential elections and the handover to civilian rule.The immediate danger for the Egyptian authorities is of new violence, as angry football supporters take to the streets once again. But this has also provoked a new political crisis, undermining trust in the ruling military council, at a time when Egypt is moving towards presidential elections and the handover to civilian rule.
Parliament opened with a minute's silence. Speaker Mohamed Saad al-Katatni said the riots were the "work of the devil" and that Egypt's revolution was "in danger". The board of the football association has been dissolved and its members referred to prosecutors for questioning, Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri told an emergency session of parliament.
Funerals were expected to be held after noon (10:00 GMT) prayers in Port Said. The session opened with a minute's silence. Speaker Mohamed Saad al-Katatni said the riots were the "work of the devil" and that Egypt's revolution was "in danger".
All Egyptian premier-league matches have been postponed indefinitely, and reports say the leadership of the country's football federation has been sacked. Egypt's public prosecutor has ordered the questioning of 52 people arrested after the riots. The governor of Port Said and the head of security are also to be questioned.
Funerals of five of the victims took place in Port Said after noon (10:00 GMT) prayers.
All Egyptian premier-league matches have been postponed indefinitely.
The Confederation of African Football said a minute's silence would be held at the quarter-final matches of the African Cup of Nations at the weekend.The Confederation of African Football said a minute's silence would be held at the quarter-final matches of the African Cup of Nations at the weekend.
World football body Fifa said it was "in mourning" and had asked Egypt for a full report on the incidents.World football body Fifa said it was "in mourning" and had asked Egypt for a full report on the incidents.
'Rage in their eyes''Rage in their eyes'
Demonstrators, many of them al-Ahly supporters known as Ultras, used metal barriers and vehicles to close Tahrir Square, the scene of huge protests last year which led to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.Demonstrators, many of them al-Ahly supporters known as Ultras, used metal barriers and vehicles to close Tahrir Square, the scene of huge protests last year which led to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.
Others are marching from the club's headquarters towards the interior ministry.Others are marching from the club's headquarters towards the interior ministry.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says there is a mood of extreme bitterness. Many supporters believe police were incompetent, or had actively provoked the unrest. The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says there is a mood of extreme bitterness. Many supporters believe police were incompetent, or actively provoked the unrest.
"People are really angry, you could see the rage in their eyes," al-Ahly supporter Mohammed Abdel Hamid told the BBC."People are really angry, you could see the rage in their eyes," al-Ahly supporter Mohammed Abdel Hamid told the BBC.
Our correspondent says Egyptian fans are notoriously violent, particularly the Ultras.Our correspondent says Egyptian fans are notoriously violent, particularly the Ultras.
They have been heavily implicated in confronting the police during recent political protests, he adds, and there is speculation that the security forces may have had an interest in taking them on.They have been heavily implicated in confronting the police during recent political protests, he adds, and there is speculation that the security forces may have had an interest in taking them on.
"They said to us, we have brought your funeral shrouds with us. And then we were attacked horribly," another al-Ahly fan, Mohamed Saeed Mohamed Ali told Reuters.
"We went to the tunnel and the doors were shut with chains, that was the first thing, and the lights were shut off. They were firing rubber bullets... There was a young man named Islam, 17 years old, who was standing next to me and then suddenly he was lying with a skewer in his head, and his eye was blown out of the other side of his head."
Police in Egypt have been keeping a much lower profile since last year's popular protests.Police in Egypt have been keeping a much lower profile since last year's popular protests.
On Wednesday night hundreds gathered at Cairo's main railway station to receive the injured and the first bodies arriving from Port Said, with some chanting slogans against military rule.On Wednesday night hundreds gathered at Cairo's main railway station to receive the injured and the first bodies arriving from Port Said, with some chanting slogans against military rule.
"They were beating us from inside and outside, with fireworks, stones, metal bars, and some had knives," one fan told a private TV station."They were beating us from inside and outside, with fireworks, stones, metal bars, and some had knives," one fan told a private TV station.
Army units were deployed in Port Said and joined police patrols around morgues and hospitals, but most streets had no police presence.Army units were deployed in Port Said and joined police patrols around morgues and hospitals, but most streets had no police presence.
The army has set up checkpoints at entrances to the city.The army has set up checkpoints at entrances to the city.
Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of Egypt's ruling army council, went to an airbase near Cairo to meet al-Ahly players who were flown back from Port Said on a military aircraft.Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of Egypt's ruling army council, went to an airbase near Cairo to meet al-Ahly players who were flown back from Port Said on a military aircraft.
"This will not bring Egypt down... These incidents happen anywhere in the world. We will not let those behind it go," he said, according to the Associated Press news agency."This will not bring Egypt down... These incidents happen anywhere in the world. We will not let those behind it go," he said, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Police overwhelmedPolice overwhelmed
Our correspondent says it appears some fans had taken knives into the stadium, and the lack of the usual level of security in the stadium might have contributed to the clashes.Our correspondent says it appears some fans had taken knives into the stadium, and the lack of the usual level of security in the stadium might have contributed to the clashes.
Wednesday's violence broke out at the end of the match, which Port Said club al-Masry won 3-1.Wednesday's violence broke out at the end of the match, which Port Said club al-Masry won 3-1.
Witnesses said the atmosphere had been tense throughout the match - since an al-Ahly fan raised a banner insulting supporters of the home team.Witnesses said the atmosphere had been tense throughout the match - since an al-Ahly fan raised a banner insulting supporters of the home team.
As the match ended, people flooded onto the pitch attacking al-Ahly players and fans.As the match ended, people flooded onto the pitch attacking al-Ahly players and fans.
A small group of riot police tried to protect the players, but were overwhelmed.A small group of riot police tried to protect the players, but were overwhelmed.
Part of the stadium was set on fire.
Officials say most of the deaths were caused by concussions, deep cuts to the heads and suffocation from the stampede.Officials say most of the deaths were caused by concussions, deep cuts to the heads and suffocation from the stampede.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood - which has emerged as Egypt's biggest party in recent elections - blamed supporters of ousted President Hosni Mubarak for the violence.Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood - which has emerged as Egypt's biggest party in recent elections - blamed supporters of ousted President Hosni Mubarak for the violence.
In Cairo, another match was halted by the referee after news of the Port Said violence.
It prompted fans to set parts of the stadium on fire, though no casualties were reported and the fire was quickly extinguished.
Were you at the match in Port Said? Did you see the pitch invasion? Or are you marching today? Share your experience by filling in the form below.Were you at the match in Port Said? Did you see the pitch invasion? Or are you marching today? Share your experience by filling in the form below.
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