Overnight clashes in the Egyptian city of Port Said killed at least 15 people, as Muslim Brotherhood supporters have defied threats of removal from their sit-in protest in Cairo.
Overnight clashes in the Egyptian city of Port Said killed at least 15 people, as Muslim Brotherhood supporters have defied threats of removal from their sit-in protest in Cairo, despite the deaths of dozens in clashes with security forces earlier.
State news agency, MENA, reported that clashes between supporters and opponents of ousted president Mohammad Mursi killed 15 people.
MENA quoted a local hospital official as saying that 15 people were wounded as Mursi supporters opened fire during the funeral of a fellow loyalist. However, the ousted president's Muslim Brotherhood group denied the claims.
Hundreds of Mursi supporters have been holding a sit-in at Port Said's Al-Tawhid mosque since his removal by the military in June 3 following mass protests against him.
Meanwhile in the capital sit-in protest, speakers from the Brotherhood addressed protesters overnight, saying they would not back down from their demands. They want Mursi reinstated.
Earlier on Saturday, dozens of Brotherhood supporters were killed in clashes with security forces in Cairo.
The health ministry puts the death toll from the clashes on Saturday at 78, although doctors estimated that more than 100 people were killed.
Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim told the supporters to "come to their senses" and go home. He warned them they will "soon" be dispersed.
Ibrahim said lawsuits filed by residents near a mosque provided legal cover for the clearance.
The government has denied that security forces fired live rounds on Saturday, only tear gas.
However, and according to media reports this appears to be untrue given the severity and number of injuries.
Concerns
Two leading figures who backed the army's removal of Mursi have condemned the killings.
The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar mosque - the highest Sunni Muslim authority in Egypt - has called for an investigation, while the vice-president of the interim government, Mohamed El-Baradei, said that excessive force had been used.
For its part, the US has expressed deep concern at the bloodshed - the worst since Mursi's ouster.
US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the violence and called on the Egyptian authorities to respect the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
"In this extremely volatile environment, Egyptian authorities have a moral and legal obligation to respect the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression," Kerry said in a statement.
