Egypt: Three Killed And 100 Wounded In Clashes As Islamists Lead Second Round
Egyptian protesters and security forces clashed Friday in Cairo. Three people were killed and over 100 were wounded. It was reported that hundreds of protesters threw rocks and firebombs at military police as they tried to storm the parliament building.
According to the AP, activists said the clashes erupted after soldiers severely beat a young man who was part of a sit-in outside the Cabinet building. Security forces burned protesters’ tents and ended the nearly three week-long sit-in calling for an end to military rule.
Meanwhile, the count was under way on Friday in the second stage of elections for the lower house of parliament. Like in the first phase last month, Islamist parties were leading the liberals, according to initial results, state media reported. According to Al-Ahram daily, there was a close race between the two main Islamist parties, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and Salafist movement’s Al-Nur.
The FJP said on its website that it was ahead in the southern province of Sohag and Giza province. It added Al-Nur was ahead in the port city of Suez, with 45 percent of the vote to the FJP’s 25 percent.
