CAIRO (AA) – Egypt's Ahrar protest movement has said that six of its members were killed on Friday in clashes with police in Cairo.
The Islamist-leaning movement staged a rally in western Cairo's Lebanon Square to demand the realization of outstanding demands of Egypt's January 2011 revolution, which toppled long-time President Hosni Mubarak.
The youth-led movement held banners aloft attacking the Muslim Brotherhood (the group from which ousted President Mohamed Morsi hails), the military and the Mubarak regime.
In a statement, the group said it came under heavy fire by security forces, which left six protesters – including a young woman – dead.
The authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The protest coincided with nationwide Friday demonstrations by Morsi supporters to denounce what they call the "military coup" against Egypt's elected leader and to "reclaim the January [25, 2011] revolution."
The rallies were called for by the pro-Morsi National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, a coalition of largely Islamist groups led by the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Health Ministry said at least three people had been killed and dozens injured in nationwide violence that marred Friday's protests.
The pro-Morsi alliance has also called for a civil disobedience campaign starting Friday, calling the move an "effective measure against the coup leaders aimed at forcing them to reverse the coup and meet revolutionary demands."
Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, was ousted by the powerful army on July 3 following mass protests against his presidency.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
