Three women died in clashes between loyalists and opponents of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammad Mursi, AFP quoted medics as saying on Saturday, despite warnings by the military that it would crackdown on violent protests.

Three women died in clashes between loyalists and opponents of Egypt's ousted President Mohammad Mursi, AFP quoted medics as saying on Saturday, despite warnings by the military that it would crackdown on violent protests.

“Three people were killed and seven others wounded by birdshot and stabbing attacks during clashes between Mursi supporters and his opponents," Adel Said, a hospital official in the Nile Delta city of Mansura, told AFP.

The three killed Friday were all women, he added.

A pro-Mursi protester injured in the clashes, also speaking by phone, said thousands of loyalists were marching through the city's narrow streets when "thugs" attacked them with guns, knives and rocks.

Rival protests were staged in several cities on Friday, with tens of thousands rallying in Cairo to demand the ousted president’s reinstatement.

Before Friday's demonstrations, the army warned that it would decisively confront any violent protesters.

"Whoever resorts to violence in Friday's protests will endanger his life, and will be treated with utmost decisiveness, within legal bounds," it said.