Egypt police tear-gas Islamists near Cairo square

Egyptian police used tear gas Saturday to prevent Islamist students from entering a Cairo square that was the site of a deadly security crackdown in August, a security official told Reuters.

Groups of students tried to enter Rabaa al-Adawiya Square in the Nasr City district when they were stopped by police who fired tear gas to disperse them, the official said.

Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares were sites of a bloody crackdown on Aug. 14 against supporters of ousted President Mohammad Mursi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“The Ministry of Interior asserts its determination on confronting violence and infringements of the law by Muslim Brotherhood supporters,” a ministry statement said.

“Security has been stepped up on highways, in all cities and at important installations. The Ministry of Interior warns against attempting to spoil the 6th of October commemoration,” it added, referring to Sunday’s 1973 Arab-Israeli war anniversary.

The attempt to return to Rabaa al-Adawiya comes after Islamists staged anti-military protests on Friday in some Cairo districts and around the iconic Tahrir Square.

Four people were killed when protesters clashed with their opponents and security forces, reported Agence France-Presse.

Islamists led by the banned Muslim Brotherhood have regularly tried to stage protests against the military-backed authorities since the army ousted Mursi on July 3.

On Sunday, as Egypt marks the 40th anniversary of the Arab-Israeli war, supporters and opponents of Mursi have called for rival demonstrations across the country, raising fears of fresh violence.

(With AFP and Reuters)