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3 Die in Egypt as Unrest Spreads Across Country 4 Die in Egypt as Unrest Spreads Across Country
(about 9 hours later)
CAIRO — At least three people were killed and hundreds were injured across Egypt on Friday, as antigovernment protesters ransacked Muslim Brotherhood offices and tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Morsi held dueling rallies in the capital. CAIRO — At least four people are dead across Egypt, including a 14-year-old boy, after antigovernment protesters ransacked Muslim Brotherhood offices on Friday and tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Morsi held dueling rallies in the capital, Cairo.
While the protests in Cairo remained peaceful, deadly clashes erupted in the port city of Alexandria, where protesters set fire to the Brotherhood’s headquarters. Security officials said that among the victims was a United States citizen, a man who was stabbed to death near the headquarters. While the protests in Cairo remained peaceful, deadly clashes erupted in the port city of Alexandria, where protesters set fire to the Brotherhood’s headquarters. Security officials said that among the victims was an American citizen, a man who was stabbed to death near the headquarters.
The security officials were not able to provide information about a second victim in Alexandria. Early Saturday, officials of Kenyon College in Ohio identified the American who was killed as Andrew Pochter, 21, a Kenyon student from Chevy Chase, Md. United States Embassy officials said he died during clashes between supporters and opponents of Mr. Morsi. Early Saturday, officials of Kenyon College in Ohio identified the American who was killed as Andrew Pochter, 21, a Kenyon student from Chevy Chase, Md. United States Embassy officials said he died during clashes between supporters and opponents of Mr. Morsi. At least two other people were killed in the Alexandria fighting, including a 14-year-old boy, Ahmed el-Deeb, and Mahmoud Suleiman, a 26-year-old laborer who died in the hospital on Saturday after being struck with birdshot in his head, state media reported.
The violence on Friday provided a dark prelude to planned mass protests on Sunday by Mr. Morsi’s opponents, who are demanding that the president step down and early elections be held. Fears about possible violence at the marches have preoccupied the country for weeks and further split Egypt’s deeply polarized political class.The violence on Friday provided a dark prelude to planned mass protests on Sunday by Mr. Morsi’s opponents, who are demanding that the president step down and early elections be held. Fears about possible violence at the marches have preoccupied the country for weeks and further split Egypt’s deeply polarized political class.
In recent days, both the army and Egypt’s highest religious authority have warned about the potential for deadly civil strife. On Friday, the United States warned its citizens to defer “nonessential” travel to Egypt and said it was allowing some of its embassy employees and their families to leave the country because of the political unrest. In recent days, the army and Egypt’s highest religious authority have warned about the potential for deadly civil strife. On Saturday, President Obama expressed concern about the unrest and said his administration’s priority was the safety of its personnel in the American Embassy and consulates. The State Department warned Americans on Friday to defer “nonessential” travel to Egypt and said it was allowing some of its staff members and their families to leave the country.
Mr. Obama, speaking in South Africa, said his administration supported “peaceful protests” and urged all sides to denounce violence.
“We do not take sides in terms of who should be elected by the Egyptian people,” Mr. Obama said. "We do take sides in terms of observing a process for democracy and the rule of law."
Mr. Pochter was an intern at AMIDEAST a nonprofit American group engaged in international education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa. The internship was not a Kenyon program, the college said on its Web site. At least seven people have been killed in violent episodes over the last three days outside Cairo. The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest Islamist party and the movement that brought Mr. Morsi to power, said that several of its supporters were killed in attacks on its offices and on mosques.Mr. Pochter was an intern at AMIDEAST a nonprofit American group engaged in international education, training and development activities in the Middle East and North Africa. The internship was not a Kenyon program, the college said on its Web site. At least seven people have been killed in violent episodes over the last three days outside Cairo. The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest Islamist party and the movement that brought Mr. Morsi to power, said that several of its supporters were killed in attacks on its offices and on mosques.
Early Friday, at least one person died in Mr. Morsi’s hometown, Zagazig, according to the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing. Later on Friday, at least four other Brotherhood offices were attacked, including by people using firearms and gasoline bombs, the group said in a statement. Some Brotherhood members may have been similarly well-armed. A video posted by the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry al-Youm on Friday appeared to show Brotherhood supporters in Alexandria firing homemade pistols during clashes. On Friday, at least four other Brotherhood offices were attacked, including by people using firearms and gasoline bombs, the group said in a statement. Some Brotherhood members may have been similarly well-armed. A video posted by the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry al-Youm on Friday appeared to show Brotherhood supporters in Alexandria firing homemade pistols during clashes.
In Cairo, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in competing protests that remained separate, and as a result, largely peaceful. Antigovernment protesters gathered in Tahrir Square, around the Defense Ministry and in front of the presidential palace, which has been ringed with new barriers, including concrete blocks and shipping containers.In Cairo, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in competing protests that remained separate, and as a result, largely peaceful. Antigovernment protesters gathered in Tahrir Square, around the Defense Ministry and in front of the presidential palace, which has been ringed with new barriers, including concrete blocks and shipping containers.
Calls for Mr. Morsi to resign have intensified as Egypt lurches from crisis to crisis, the most recent one over the endless gas lines that have clogged roads around the country.Calls for Mr. Morsi to resign have intensified as Egypt lurches from crisis to crisis, the most recent one over the endless gas lines that have clogged roads around the country.
The largest of the rallies on Friday was by Mr. Morsi’s supporters at a regular meeting point in Nasr City, convening during midday prayers to defend the “legitimacy” of Mr. Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected leader.The largest of the rallies on Friday was by Mr. Morsi’s supporters at a regular meeting point in Nasr City, convening during midday prayers to defend the “legitimacy” of Mr. Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected leader.
While an imam told the crowd to choose peace over violence, many in attendance seemed to be bracing for a fight. Vendors sold hard hats and wooden canes. Men carried green PVC tubing and wooden planks. The men said the weapons were for “self-defense,” but some said that extended to defending the presidential palace if the police and Mr. Morsi’s guards were not up to the task.While an imam told the crowd to choose peace over violence, many in attendance seemed to be bracing for a fight. Vendors sold hard hats and wooden canes. Men carried green PVC tubing and wooden planks. The men said the weapons were for “self-defense,” but some said that extended to defending the presidential palace if the police and Mr. Morsi’s guards were not up to the task.
“Putting down the Muslim Brotherhood has become a common thing in this country,” said Ahmed Abdul Aziz, 38, who attended the rally. He echoed sentiments voiced by Mr. Morsi and his allies with growing conviction — dismissing the opposition as driven by disgruntled remnants of the government of former President Hosni Mubarak.“Putting down the Muslim Brotherhood has become a common thing in this country,” said Ahmed Abdul Aziz, 38, who attended the rally. He echoed sentiments voiced by Mr. Morsi and his allies with growing conviction — dismissing the opposition as driven by disgruntled remnants of the government of former President Hosni Mubarak.
“It is the first time that we see the candidates who lost elections try to fight back through undemocratic means,” he said.“It is the first time that we see the candidates who lost elections try to fight back through undemocratic means,” he said.

Mayy El Sheikh contributed reporting from Cairo.

Mayy El Sheikh contributed reporting from Cairo.