Egypt's clashes not likely to develop into civil war

CAIRO, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has been witnessing deadly violence between supporters and opponents of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, but the clashes are not likely to develop into a civil war, analysts said.

"Changing the Islamist regime costs Egypt high price," said security expert Gamal Mazloum.

Mazloum noted that the Egyptian army has seized a large number of unlicensed weapons, and that the army will stand decisively against any escalation of violence that may lead to a war.

Since Friday night, 36 people have been killed and more than 1, 500 injured in clashes across the country. The Black Bloc, a newly formed radical opposition group, on Sunday called on people to take to iconic Tahrir square to protect the "revolution" against the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Morsi is affiliated.

So far, the army has managed to control the clashes and separate between the two sides, said Mazloum.

The security expert predicted that the country will witness more violence in the coming days, which aren't likely to develop into sectarian or civil clashes, and "then all violence will be contained shortly."

Although security situation in Sinai Peninsula has been deteriorating following the ouster of Morsi, with seven people including two recruits and a church priest killed in Arish city over the last two days, Mazloum believed that the army is still able to control the radical groups in Sinai.

"National reconciliation is the only way for calm," Mazloum noted, adding that the Muslim Brotherhood is part and parcel of the nation and couldn't be eradicated.

According to political expert Hussein Abdel Raziq, Muslim Brotherhood realizes "seizing the power is a chance which is hard to be repeated" and will resist by all means, using its "old violence catalogue."

"The Muslim Brotherhood will not be able to practice violence if the crowds stay in the squares," Raziq said, expecting more supporters for the toppled president to gather in the streets.

With more civilians spreading in the streets and the roadmap presented by the armed forces swiftly enforced, the violence will eventually shrink, Raziq said.

Besides, the Egyptians are peaceful by nature, and the extremist Islamists are not likely to spread or grow, Mazloum added.

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