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| Egypt football violence: Hundreds injured in Cairo clashes | Egypt football violence: Hundreds injured in Cairo clashes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nearly 400 people have been injured in Cairo in fresh clashes between police and protesters angered by the deaths of 74 people on Wednesday after a football match in the city of Port Said. | Nearly 400 people have been injured in Cairo in fresh clashes between police and protesters angered by the deaths of 74 people on Wednesday after a football match in the city of Port Said. |
| Thousands marched to the interior ministry, where police fired tear gas to keep them back. | Thousands marched to the interior ministry, where police fired tear gas to keep them back. |
| Two protesters are reported dead in similar clashes in the city of Suez. | |
| Earlier, the Egyptian prime minister announced the sackings of several senior officials. | Earlier, the Egyptian prime minister announced the sackings of several senior officials. |
| Funerals of some of the victims took place in Port Said. | Funerals of some of the victims took place in Port Said. |
| The deaths on Wednesday came when fans invaded the pitch after a football match involving top Cairo club al-Ahly and the Port Said side al-Masry. | The deaths on Wednesday came when fans invaded the pitch after a football match involving top Cairo club al-Ahly and the Port Said side al-Masry. |
| Revolution | Revolution |
| Young, poor and unemployed - many of the al-Ahly football fans caught up in the violence on the terraces in Port Said also took part in the battles for Tahrir Square. What they want are jobs and the opportunity to escape their predicament. What they hate are privileged and powerful symbols of authority. | Young, poor and unemployed - many of the al-Ahly football fans caught up in the violence on the terraces in Port Said also took part in the battles for Tahrir Square. What they want are jobs and the opportunity to escape their predicament. What they hate are privileged and powerful symbols of authority. |
| Internet forums and blogs are full of conspiracy theories, blaming the generals for deliberately allowing al-Ahly fans to be attacked. The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's biggest political movement, also accused the military of fomenting unrest to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. | Internet forums and blogs are full of conspiracy theories, blaming the generals for deliberately allowing al-Ahly fans to be attacked. The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's biggest political movement, also accused the military of fomenting unrest to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. |
| That seems far-fetched. All we know for sure is that poorly paid and poorly trained riot police failed to keep apart two sets of football fans with a history of violence and mutual hatred. | That seems far-fetched. All we know for sure is that poorly paid and poorly trained riot police failed to keep apart two sets of football fans with a history of violence and mutual hatred. |
| After the overthrow of President Mubarak, you might expect everyone to now come together, preparing for a new era. But the reality is that Egypt is still a country in turmoil. | After the overthrow of President Mubarak, you might expect everyone to now come together, preparing for a new era. But the reality is that Egypt is still a country in turmoil. |
| As night fell in Cairo, several thousand demonstrators remained in the streets around the ministry, witnesses said. | |
| In Suez, health official Mohammed Lasheen said two people had been shot dead early on Friday. | |
| A doctor at a morgue confirmed the shootings. | |
| It was not clear who was being blamed for the deaths, however, a witness quoted by Reuters said: "Protesters are trying to break into the Suez police station and police are now firing live ammunition." | |
| Throughout Thursday, al-Ahly supporters gathered outside the club's stadium in Cairo. A series of protest marches moved towards Tahrir Square, and then on to the ministry of interior. | Throughout Thursday, al-Ahly supporters gathered outside the club's stadium in Cairo. A series of protest marches moved towards Tahrir Square, and then on to the ministry of interior. |
| Some chanted slogans against Egypt's military rulers, while others threw stones. | Some chanted slogans against Egypt's military rulers, while others threw stones. |
| "Our army must choose between the military council and the revolutionaries,'' they chanted. | "Our army must choose between the military council and the revolutionaries,'' they chanted. |
| Police fired tear gas to keep the thousands of protesters away from the ministry, which is protected by concrete barricades. | Police fired tear gas to keep the thousands of protesters away from the ministry, which is protected by concrete barricades. |
| Motorcycles ferried the injured from the scene as ambulances were often unable to get through. | |
| At one point, ambulances intervened to rescue riot police whose vehicle mistakenly turned into a street full of protesters, Reuters reported. | |
| Egyptian state news agency Mena quoted a health ministry official as saying 388 protesters were injured. Most of them were suffering from tear gas inhalation as well as bruises and broken bones from rocks. | |
| Al-Ahly supporters, known as "ultras", played a prominent role in last year's street protests which led to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak. | Al-Ahly supporters, known as "ultras", played a prominent role in last year's street protests which led to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak. |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says the ultras believe they were targeted for their support for the revolution over the past year. | The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Cairo, says the ultras believe they were targeted for their support for the revolution over the past year. |
| They accuse the police of deliberately allowing al-Masry fans to attack them. | They accuse the police of deliberately allowing al-Masry fans to attack them. |
| "It's like war, you can't believe it. What happened yesterday [Wednesday] was war, it's not football. To kill without any feeling... is not normal," former al-Ahly player Hani Seddik told the BBC. | "It's like war, you can't believe it. What happened yesterday [Wednesday] was war, it's not football. To kill without any feeling... is not normal," former al-Ahly player Hani Seddik told the BBC. |
| There were also protests in Port Said and at the main headquarters of the security forces in Suez, at the southern end of the Suez Canal, the Associated Press reported. | There were also protests in Port Said and at the main headquarters of the security forces in Suez, at the southern end of the Suez Canal, the Associated Press reported. |
| 'Difficult time' | 'Difficult time' |
| Earlier on Thursday, parliament met in emergency session, beginning with a minute's silence. | Earlier on Thursday, parliament met in emergency session, beginning with a minute's silence. |
| Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri told MPs the head of Egypt's football association had been sacked and the board dissolved, with its members referred to prosecutors for questioning. | Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri told MPs the head of Egypt's football association had been sacked and the board dissolved, with its members referred to prosecutors for questioning. |
| Port Said's director of security and the head of investigations were suspended and are now in custody, Mr Ganzouri said. | Port Said's director of security and the head of investigations were suspended and are now in custody, Mr Ganzouri said. |
| The government has come under renewed attack over its handling, both of the football game, and of the way it is handling the transition to democracy, our correspondent says. | The government has come under renewed attack over its handling, both of the football game, and of the way it is handling the transition to democracy, our correspondent says. |
| The president of al-Ahly, Hamid Hamdy, said his club would not take part in league games. | The president of al-Ahly, Hamid Hamdy, said his club would not take part in league games. |
| "I hope that the world understands the position of al-Ahly club, that we are going through a very difficult time as a result of all of those martyrs that we lost yesterday," he told a news conference. | "I hope that the world understands the position of al-Ahly club, that we are going through a very difficult time as a result of all of those martyrs that we lost yesterday," he told a news conference. |
| "People should feel that there is a tragedy and a disaster which has happened in Egyptian sports, and for al-Ahly." | "People should feel that there is a tragedy and a disaster which has happened in Egyptian sports, and for al-Ahly." |
| 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. |
| The Muslim Brotherhood - which has emerged as Egypt's biggest party in recent elections - blamed ex-President Mubarak's supporters for the violence. | The Muslim Brotherhood - which has emerged as Egypt's biggest party in recent elections - blamed ex-President Mubarak's supporters for the violence. |
| Are you in Cairo? Have you witnessed the clashes? Please send us your stories using the form below. | Are you in Cairo? Have you witnessed the clashes? Please send us your stories using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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