Dozens More Killed on Egypt’s ‘Day of Rage’

ABC
August 17, 2013

Egyptian army soldiers take their positions on top and next to their armored vehicles while guarding an entrance to Tahrir square, in Cairo, Egypt, Aug. 16, 2013.
Egyptian army soldiers take their positions on top and next to their armored vehicles while guarding an entrance to Tahrir square, in Cairo, Egypt, Aug. 16, 2013.

With bodies still being counted from the unprecedented bloodshed earlier this week, at least 100 more people were killed today around Egypt as clashes erupted during protests billed as a “Day of Rage.”

In the capital, thousands of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi hit the streets after Friday prayers to march towards Cairo’s Ramses Square. In a statement sent out to supporters Friday morning, the Muslim Brotherhood called on “the great Egyptian people to gather in all revolutionary squares on the Friday of Rage.”

The statement continued, “Afterwards, all marches will meet at the nearest intersection, and will all head to Ramses Square. Meanwhile, million-man marches will be held in all other Egyptian governorates.”

In preparation for the marches, Egyptian security forces positioned guards alongside Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) at Ramses Square.

Violent clashes erupted as the throngs of protesters arrived, live gunfire rang out and military helicopters circled overhead. The nearby makeshift field hospital in downtown Cairo told ABC News workers there had counted at least 100 bodies, but that number may climb.

The mostly unarmed protesters were chanting anti-military slogans and “Execute Sissi,” referring to the army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah El-Sissi, who took control when Morsi was removed from power.

Dramatic videos emerged of protesters fleeing the barrage of gunfire, and some flinging themselves off bridges.

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