Hundreds killed in Egypt's bloodiest clash in 40 years

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CAIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The dispersal operation at ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's supporters at Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo's Nasr City and al-Nahda square in Giza on Wednesday has left at least 278 people dead, including 43 policemen, and more than 20,000 others injured, according to the Health Ministry.

Yet Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood reported on its website that more than 2,000 people were shot dead and some 10,000 others injured in the clearing up operation, describing the scene as "massacre and genocide."

On early Wednesday, Egyptian security forces backed by bulldozers moved in on Rabaa al-Adawiya square and Al-Nahda square, the two major camps where Morsi's supporters staged a sit-in for 45 days following the removal of Morsi on July 3.

The military used tear gas to disperse protesters. The sound of automatic gunfire rang out at both sites. Many fallen protesters were seen shot in the head.

After some two hours into the operation, the Interior Ministry claimed that security forces had fully controlled Al-Nahda Square.

Witnesses said many protesters were chased by the forces from the square into the Giza zoo, close to the Cairo University.

Helicopters hovered over both squares as smoke of burning tyres billowed up into the sky after the clearing operation was launched simultaneously at around 7 a.m. (0500 GMT).

Local media said two journalists -- a TV cameraman of Britain's Sky News and a reporter of the Dubai-based news weekly Xpress, were killed in the gunfire. A Reuters photographer was shot in the foot while covering the event.

The Egyptian security forces managed to evict Nahda Square in Giza on Wednesday afternoon. TV footage showed members of the security forces clearing up the tents at the square.

The bloody clashes were the worst in Egypt since war with Israel in 1973.

After the security forces and police totally cleared the two protest camps in the capital, Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said the government would never tolerate any further sit-ins, vowing to restore domestic security.

Due to the volatile situation, the Egyptian presidency announced a nationwide state of emergency for one month.

Also, the Egyptian cabinet imposed curfew on 14 turbulent cities and governorates including the capital Cairo, Giza and Alexandria.

A statement from the cabinet said that the curfew will be in place from 7 p.m. (1700 GMT) to 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) until further notice and that anyone who violates the curfew would be arrested.

In related developments, at least 65 people were killed in Minya governorate in clashes between police and pro-Morsi protesters who attempted to storm the Abo-Qorqas police station.

In Faiyum, civil protection forces and fire fighters managed to contain fires that broke out in several areas and facilities, including the governor's house and some shops.

In the coastal city of Alexandria, hundreds of angry Morsi supporters set ablaze tyres and tore down pictures of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, blaming him for ousting their legitimate president.

Hundreds of Morsi loyalists had marched through the city when police fired tear gas to disperse them, an eye witness told Xinhua. More than 10 people were killed.

In Suez, at least seven people were killed in riots, the official MENA news agency reported.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement: "The protesters were given complete opportunity for diplomatic solution, but in vain."

"We cleared up the sit-inns with the least losses," it added.

Egyptian interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi on Wednesday hailed security forces for showing high level of "restraint" during the dispersal.

He also said that the state of emergency declared earlier Wednesday will be applied only for a short period of time, pointing out that "Egypt is on its transition roadmap to build a democratic country with social justice."

• Egypt sees mixed domestic reactions over clearing pro-Morsi protests
• Egypt announces state of emergency for 1 month
• Kerry slams violence in Egypt
• Egyptian demonstrators confront security forces in Cairo
• Russia calls for restraint in Egypt
• France calls for peaceful solution to Egypt violence
• 235 killed, over 2,000 injured in Egypt's unrest: Health Ministry
• Egypt's police start disbanding pro-Morsi sit-ins, casualties reported
• Morsi supporters, opponents clash in Cairo, 1 killed
• Thousands of Morsi's supporters continue protest in Cairo

• Egypt's Conflict Enters New Phase After Assaults

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