Egypt

Residents clash with protesters in Abbasseya

Central Security and military forces cordoned protesters in Abbasseya, while residents threw stones and molotov cocktails at them. 

About 5000 people marched from Tahrir Square to the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Abbasseya on Saturday to reject military rule. 

Military forces fired shots in the air to disperse protesters as they reached the area. People in the area threw stones at protesters, which injured some of them. 

The march was organized to coincide with 23 July, the day a military coup toppled Egypt's monarchy in 1952. 

Protesters carried signs reading, "down with military rule" and "people want the regime to fall."

The No to Military Trials group took part in the march, demanding a halt to trying civilians in military tribunals. 

The march took place despite scuffles on Friday night, when about 2000 protesters marched from Tahrir to the headquarters of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to protest alleged military assaults on demonstrators in Suez and Alexandria on the same day. Army forces prevented the protesters from advancing, blocking Abbasseya Bridge with armored vehicles and firing shots into the air. 

It also came just after military statements accused the April 6 Youth Movement of trying to destroy the unity between the SCAF and the people. 

"This march was organized for a long time to coincide with 23 July, because we are far from happy with the current military rule. Perhaps the numbers have increased in light of the recent military statements against 6 April," said Nazly Hussein, a protester taking part in the Tahrir Square sit-in that kicked off on 8 July.

"We are in a revolution against the SCAF," said Mohammed Hussein, a protester and accessories shop owner. 

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