One dead, scores injured in political violence in Mansoura

[DJKeefy]

Violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi have led to at least one death and scores of injuries in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, Egyptian state television reported Wednesday evening.

Egyptian police have used teargas in an attempt to disperse the clashes, in which at least one person was killed and 225 injured, according to a health ministry source.

Khaled El-Khatib, head of the ministry's department for emergency and urgent treatment, said the victim – named Abdel-Hamid Sadek – had succumbed to chest and abdominal injuries after having been shot with birdshot.

According to reports on state television, birdshot, bladed weapons and petrol bombs have been used in the violence. Electricity was also cut in the area in what might have been an attempt by the authorities to end the violence.

Clashes erupted Wednesday afternoon after hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood group, from which Morsi hails, staged a demonstration in support of the presidency outside a local mosque following afternoon prayers.

It remains unclear how the clashes started.

Eyewitness accounts vary on whether the demonstration was attacked by local residents or by "thugs" previously accused by the Brotherhood of attacking group members.

The street fighting in Mansoura broke out hours before an anticipated national address by President Morsi slated for 9:30pm, as the country braces for nationwide anti-government rallies on Sunday.

During the mayhem in the Nile Delta city, several people reportedly looted a local supermarket owned by prominent Brotherhood member Khairat El-Shater, throwing merchandise into the street.

Anti-Brotherhood crowds also set a microbus owned by the group alight.

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/75042.aspx

[Horus]

If nothing else it does seem as though many Egyptians are aware of the creeping menace of the MB slowly taking control and are prepared to oppose it before it takes over completely.

[LovelyLadyLux]

I feel badly for the average Egyptian. They suffered longtime under Mubarak and now they have the MB and Morsi to contend with albeit democratically elected but IMO with no real intention of creating and maintaining a democratic country (as we know and understand it).

I'm waiting for the day when the MB declares fundamental Islamic law will become the way of life for EVERYBODY regardless if you're an expat or not. Going to be interesting seeing the expats sporting hijabs, men wearing a fistful of beard, women only getting to go outside with a male relative, giving up all alcohol and on and on. Truly wonder how many will opt to stay living in Egypt under Islamic rule? The MB are lurking, ARE a force to be reckoned with and are not about to go away.

Since Islam is such a profound way of life for the average Egyptian it is going to be extremely difficult if not impossible for them to separate religion from politics and I doubt the average Egyptian can. My fear is that as the MB gains power there will be no turning back the clock and fundamental Islam in its worst most rigid form will come into being in Egypt.

[Horus]

I fear that it is a typical progression that must always happen after any Middle East revolution takes place. Mainly due to the fact that the population in general is rarely, if ever organised, whereas the more extreme and usually religious based political parties are already toiling away to procure the political outcome they so desire which is usually dominated by their own brand of religion. The usual form this takes is the appointment of an extreme religious figure who starts to implement the parties wishes, all opposition gets crushed and the country slides into ecconomic chaos as their new policies start to spread fear amongst investors and close neighbours. There usually follows a period of denial from the new leaders in which they act defiantly and try to pretend all is well within the country and they often become rogue states, Iran and North Korea being good examples. Eventually the population becomes either indoctrinated or knows no better, or they start to rebel against the new oppressors who rule them. Some countries such as Turkey have been secular for so long that it is hard for these religious types to get away without there being challenges and protests about their actions whereas others like the moderates in Iran just get tired of being pariahs on the world stage and long for change, Egypt currently sits somewhere in the middle with the (probably) majority not wanting to go down the religiously controlled road, but the minority who currently hold the power are making these unpopular introductions. Once again it is religion showing its ugly head in politics and whenever that happens the country and its people usually suffer.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Quite agree with your analysis H. My more cynical side comes out when querying how all of these political moves will impact Expats but if the extremists maintain control life could change dramatically for everything (and I nod towards Saudi Arabia).

Hopefully June 30th will not bring increased violence to Egypt. It has a long tradition and IS in the middle but ??? The 30th is coming......