Security authorities Wednesday morning imposed a curfew on the village of Rouda, located in Minya Governorate, after election-related violence claimed the life of one local.
Clashes erupted in the area on Tuesday night after election results showed the ruling National Democratic Party's candidate for Minya’s Mallawy district, Mohamed Helmy, failed in his bid for parliamentary office.
One villager said a verbal quarrel between villagers and Helmy's supporters escalated into a fist fight. A passer-by, 38-year-old Bakr Mahfouz, was killed by gunfire when intervening on behalf of Mahfouz supporters. Mahfouz's brothers accused Helmy’s two brothers, Ashraf and Gamal, of murder.
The Helmys managed to escape the enraged villagers before the clashes developed into a full-blown shootout. The sides exchanged fire from the roofs of buildings. Security forces cordoned off the village following the incident. Police raids seized 50 automatic weapons.
Facing charges of murder and possessing unlicensed weapons, prosecutors interrogated Helmy's brothers. Relatives of Mahfouz set fire to two vehicles owned by the candidate, investigations revealed.
On Monday, scores of villagers chanting humiliating slogans confronted Helmy. His relatives and supporters dispersed the crowd by shooting warning bullets in the air.
Following the incident, Helmy contacted security authorities to request protection for him and his family.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
