Gunfire erupts in Cairo, 173 deaths over weekend
Hours after soldiers entered Cairo barricaded mosque, evacuated several hundreds, heavy fire breaks out between army, Muslim Brotherhood men inside. Brotherhood's leader's son one of 95 killed in central Cairo, movement's website reported
Gunmen and members of the Egyptian security forces exchanged fire on Saturday in a Cairo square where dozens of supporters of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi were shot dead the day before, Reuters journalists said.
Footage broadcast by the privately-owned CBC station appeared to show someone firing from the minaret of the Fath mosque in Ramses Square, where protests against the army-backed government had converged on Friday.
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The heavy gunfire erupted a little while after the Muslim Brotherhood announced that one of the sons of movement's General Guide, Mohamed Badie, was killed on Friday in Cairo during "Day of Rage" protests against the army-backed government.
According to the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party's Facebook page, Ammar Badie, 38, died of a bullet wound sustained while taking part in protests in Ramses Square. Mohamed Badie's whereabouts are unknown. He has been charged with inciting violence and faces a trial that starts on August 25.
Ammar was Mohamed Badie's middle child, and a computer engineer by profession.
Muslim Brotherhood video: Army shoots protestor
The violent clashes across Egypt on Friday that pitted supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood against security forces killed 173 people, including 95 in central Cairo, the health ministry said on Saturday.
The ministry said 1,330 people were wounded nationwide, with 596 hurt in the Cairo clashes.
After a relatively calm morning, reports of violent incident in Egypt resurfaced. The Sky network in Arabic reported that unknown persons broke into Badie's home south of Cairo and torched it.
At the same time the Alarabiya network reported that gunmen opened fire toward a police station in Cairo.
Cairo mass demonstration (Photo: Reuters)
Earlier on Saturday, Egyptian soldiers entered a Cairo mosque where hundreds of ousted President Mohamed Morsi supporters have barricaded themselves, Egyptian media reported.
Footage aired on Egyptian TV channels show the soldiers enter the al-Fath mosque without the use of violence, and it appears they are negotiating with the protestors in the hope of a peaceful evacuation of the premises.
Morsi supporters (Photo: EPA)
Several hours later it was reported that several hundreds have left the mosque, and it still unclear how many still occupy the building.
Late on Friday night police started to besiege the mosque, and sounds of gunfire were heard in its vicinity. It's unclear whether anyone was hurt.
In the mosque's area, near Ramses Square, at least 12 people were killed on Friday, and the mosque turned into an impromptu infirmary.
In his Facebook page, the Egyptian army spokesperson claimed that gunmen are using the mosque to target nearby buildings.
About 1,004 Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been arrested.
The violence followed Wednesday's assault by security forces on two Brotherhood sit-ins in Cairo that left hundreds dead, as the military-backed government tried to end weeks of turbulence that has pushed the Arab world's most populous state to the brink of disaster.
Roi Kais contributed to this report
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