Three people have been killed in clashes between backers and opponents of Egypt’s deposed president Mohamed Morsy, the Health Ministry said on Saturday, the latest violence since the Islamist leader was ousted by the army earlier this month.
Eight were injured in the clashes that took place early on Saturday in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, said the ministry.
Mr. Morsy’s Muslim Brotherhood put the death toll at four -- all women, saying they had been killed in an attack by “thugs” at a rally. Some 200 were injured, according to the group.
“Killing women in Mansoura by using live bullets and long knives in front of army and police is a shame for the plotters of the bloody military coup and for everyone who has welcomed or stayed silent over its destructive repercussions on human rights,” Essam al-Erian, a senior Brotherhood official, posted on his Facebook page.
The army ousted Mr. Morsy on July 3 after millions of Egyptians took to the streets demanding his resignation.
The Brotherhood has denounced Mr. Morsy’s toppling as a coup and vowed street protests until he is reinstated.
While condemning the Mansoura killings, Hamdeen Sabahi, a prominent opposition leader, blamed the Brotherhood leaders for the incident.
“The fanatics who sent them (protesters) to havoc should not be deemed innocent. They have to step down,” Sabahi tweeted.
The Brotherhood insists that its pro-Morsy rallies are peaceful and accuses security forces and thugs of attacking them.
Dozens have died in clashes across Egypt since Mr. Morsy’s overthrow.
At least 51 people, mainly Brotherhood supporters, were killed last week when soldiers opened fire on protesters outside the Republican Guard building in Cairo, where Mr. Morsy is believed to be held.
The army said its soldiers had acted in self-defence.
Meanwhile, outlining its foreign policy after Mr. Morsy’s removal, Egypt said it would review relations with Syria, a month after the toppled president severed them.
“Everything (on Syria) will be re-evaluated, but I don’t mean restoration of relations,” Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said.
In his first policy statement since taking over the post this week, he said that Cairo and Damascus maintain consulates in each other’s country even though diplomatic ties were severed.
“Egypt supports the revolution and the Syrian people’s right to a dignified life within a democratic system ... but there is no intention to go for jihad in Syria. The peaceful solution is the best and the only one to preserve Syria’s sovereignty.” Mr. Fahmy, the former ambassador to Washington, also called on Israel to take “confidence-building measures” ahead of next week’s US-sponsored negotiations with the Palestinians.
“Egypt will continue to give a top priority to the Palestinian cause and support the Palestinian people’s right to have an independent state.” Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. Jordan followed in 1984.
Jordanian King Abdullah II arrived in Egypt on Saturday for talks with the country’s interim leaders, said sources at Cairo airport.
King Abdullah is the first Arab leader to visit Egypt since Mr. Morsy’s overthrow.
