Egypt orders shutdown of Islamist party headquarters

The Egyptian prosecution ordered on Monday the shutdown of the Freedom and Justice Party’s headquarters in Cairo, a security official told AFP.

He added that weapons were found inside the building.

Police found “flammable liquid, knives and arms to be used against the June 30 protests,” the official told AFP, referring to demonstrations that saw millions take to the streets to demand the resignation of Islamist President Mohammed Mursi.

Meanwhile, the youth party Tamarod -- which spearheaded the protests against Mursi -- released a statement on Monday asking the interim president, Adly Mansour, to dissolve the Freedom and Justice Party.

The Freedom and Justice Party is the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Mursi hails.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood called for an “uprising” on Monday after at least 35 of its supporters were shot dead outside an army headquarters in Cairo, and urged international intervention to prevent a “new Syria.”

Earlier, the Egyptian armed forces said “armed terrorists” had tried to storm the headquarters of the elite Republican Guard, where the Brotherhood had been protesting, leaving one security officer dead.

(With AFP)