Egypt: 253 injured in clashes in Port Said
Protest is northeastern city over controversial court ruling spirals into riot, clashes with security forces
Clashes between protesters and police in the Egyptian city of Port Said have so far left 253 people wounded.
The riot in the northeastern city broke out after a decision by the Interior Ministry to move 39 prisoners awaiting trial to an unknown location.
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The prisoners are awaiting a verdict over their alleged involvement in a deadly football riot.
The verdict, expected next Saturday, is for the remaining defendants in a case which resulted in death sentences in January for 21 defendants, sparking clashes that killed at least 40 people.
A security official said protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at the police station in the restive Suez Canal city, where a general strike entered its third week. Police responded with tear gas.
Protesters on Saturday torched a police station in Port Said and prevented fire engines from reaching the blaze.
Residents of Port Said and other canal cities have long complained that Cairo marginalizes them.
Last year's football riot which killed 74 people, mostly supporters of a visiting Cairo team, exacerbated Port Said's isolation, they say.
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