Two killed in Cairo clash

Two killed in Cairo clash

At least two people have been killed in the latest unrest in the Egyptian capital Cairo, amid continuing anger over 74 deaths after a football match in Port Said on Wednesday.

Many Egyptians blame the authorities for failing to protect fans.

A demonstrator and a soldier died on Friday as clashes continued outside the interior ministry, with police firing tear gas at stone-throwing crowds.

Violence on Thursday left two dead in Suez and hundreds injured.

Hundreds of al-Ahly football fans carried flags and wore their scarves for Friday prayers outside the club, but this was a sombre occasion to remember Wednesday's dead. Afterwards, they marched to Tahrir Square - where they have been joined by supporters of their arch-rivals, Zamalek.

There are several thousand young men at the latest protests in central Cairo. It appears families have stayed away for fear of violence.

On the side streets behind the interior ministry, clouds of tear gas can be seen. There is a constant din from the sirens of ambulances heading to the scene to remove the injured.

Anger is directed at the ruling generals. Cries go up of "the people demand the removal of the marshal" - a reference to Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads the ruling military council. Demonstrators want a faster transition to civilian rule. Wider Egyptian society worries about the continuing state of insecurity and some people believe that protests like this one are not helping.

Latest unrest

The latest bout of unrest began on Wednesday, after a pitch invasion in Port Said, when Cairo's visiting al-Ahly side was attacked after losing to the local al-Masry side. Seventy-four people died and over 1,000 were injured.

Most of the dead were believed to be al-Ahly supporters. Hardcore fans - known as "ultras" - have accused the authorities of allowing the killings to happen.

They say the authorities wanted revenge because the ultras were among those battling the police during last year's revolution that ousted strongman leader Hosni Mubarak.

Anger over the deaths has combined with widespread frustration at the pace of reforms undertaken by Egypt's interim military rulers.

BBC/Cokey