Supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and demonstrators who oppose him clashed late Friday in central Cairo. Earlier, Egyptian troops opened fire on demonstrators in the capital who support Morsi. The clashes came during what is being called a “day of rage,” a wave of pro-Morsi protests across the country organized by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Earlier in the day the Egyptian military fired upon protesters outside the Republican Guard barracks in Cairo where Morsi is believed to be detained. A number of demonstrators were injured and some reportedly were killed when soldiers opened fire on the protesters.
The shooting came as thousands of supporters of ousted Morsi rallied across the country. History teacher Saleh Ali al Najjar said they want to restore democratic rule.
“We came from all over Egypt for one goal only: to return the democratically elected president to the palace,'' he said.
Watch related video of VOA's Sharon Behn in Cairo's Tahrir Square:
Morsi, the country's first democratically elected leader, was forced out by the military after only a year in office. He and many senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested, and the Brotherhood's TV station and newspaper have been shut down.
Military leaders say they were acting on behalf of the nation and the thousands of anti-government protesters who still occupy Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Anti-Morsi demonstrators, like businessman Abdel Meguid Issa, say they are frustrated with the struggling economy and Morsi's Islamist agenda.
"The Brotherhood are not going on the right track. They are our brothers. They are Egyptians, but they take it from the point of view of Islam. We don’t want Islam here. We want economic reform,” said Issa.
While the Muslim Brotherhood called for peaceful protests, Islamic militants staged multiple attacks on security forces in Egypt's troubled Sinai Peninsula.
In Cairo, the chief of the Muslim Brotherhood, released from detention, vowed to end military rule.
Egypt’s military has called for reconciliation and promised new elections, but the violence on the streets of Cairo has escalated.
Mass Protests Across Egypt, July 5, 2013
1/15A military attack helicopter flies near the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
2/15Supporters of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi carry an injured man during clashes outside the Republican Guard building in Cairo, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
3/15Supporters and opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Morsi clash in Cairo, July 5, 2013. Tens of thousands of Islamists streamed across a Nile River bridge toward Tahrir Square, threatening a showdown moments after the top leader of the Muslim Brotherhood defiantly spoke before a cheering crowd of supporters, vowing to reinstate the ousted president and end military rule.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
4/15Islamist protesters, one holding a picture of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, hold up blood-stained hands after troops opened fire on a protest in front of the Republican Guard headquarters in Nasr City, Cairo, July 5, 2013
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
5/15Opponents of Egypt's Islamist ousted president Mohamed Morsi wave national flags as they celebrate in Tahrir Square, in Cairo, July 5, 2013
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
6/15Protesters who support former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gather around the body of a man during clashes outside the Republican Guard building in Cairo, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
7/15A protester, who supports former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, chants slogans during a rally near Cairo University after Friday prayers in Cairo, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
8/15Security forces watch over supporters of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi during clashes outside the Republican Guard building in Cairo, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
9/15A protester who supports former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi offers flowers to military personnel during clashes outside the Republican Guard building in Cairo, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
10/15Supporters of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi gather around the covered body of a victim of clashes outside the Republican Guard building in Cairo, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
11/15Supports of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi run during demonstrations outside the Republican Guard building in Cairo July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
12/15A protester, who supports former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, holds up a copy of the Koran as she and others march near Cairo University after Friday prayers in Cairo, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
13/15Supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi react to an explosion of unknown origin and throw stones at police officers nearby, during a protest in Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, July 5, 2013.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
14/15A supporter of ousted Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi cries during a protest near the University of Cairo, Giza, Egypt, Friday, July 5, 2013. Arabic reads, "Yes for the legitimacy." Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called for a wave of protests Friday, furious over the military's ouster of its president and arrest of its revered leader and other top figures, raising fears of violence and retaliation from Islamic militants.
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
15/15Opponents of Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi wave national flags and posters showing Lt. Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Tahrir Square, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, July 5, 2013. Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called for a wave of protests Friday, furious o
The Muslim Brotherhood had called for peaceful protests to follow afternoon prayers across Egypt and the atmosphere on the streets had been largely celebratory since President Morsi was forced out of office. However, as the day progressed, there were escalating Incidents of violence.
