Death toll rises to more than 500 as U.S. reviews aid to Egypt
More than 500 people were killed in Egypt on Wednesday, in what is being called one of the bloodiest days in decades for the country. Egyptian security forces undertook a planned operation to clear supporters of former president Mohamed Morsi from sit-in demonstrations in Cairo who were camped out for over a month.
President Obama made a statement Thursday morning condemning the steps that have been taken by Egypt’s interim government and security forces. “We call on the Egyptian authorities to respect the universal rights of the people,” he said. “We call on those who protest to do so peacefully.”
Obama also said the U.S. government would be canceling upcoming bi-annual joint military exercises scheduled with Egypt.
WARNING: VISUAL COVERAGE DEPICTS INJURY AND/OR DEATH.
- A tractor clears the debris at Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo on August 15, 2013, as smoke billows in the background, following a crackdown on the protest camps of supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi the previous day. The day’s violence was Egypt’s worst in decades, exceeding even that seen during the 18-day uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak. (Mahmoud Khaled/AFP/Getty Images)
- People walk inside the burnt Rabaa Adawiya mosque, the morning after the clearing of a protest which was held around the mosque, in Cairo, August 15, 2013. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)
- A view of the debris after the clearing of a protest camp outside the burnt Rabaa Adawiya mosque in Cairo August 15, 2013. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)
- An Egyptian man sits by a coffin as family members identify the bodies of supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, killed during a violent crackdown by Egyptian Security Forces on pro-Morsi sit-in demonstrations the day before, at the al-Iman Mosque in Nasr City on August 15, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- Two Egyptian men identify the body of a family member, a supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi killed during a violent crackdown by Egyptian Security Forces on pro-Morsi sit-in demonstrations the day before, at the al-Iman Mosque in Nasr City on August 15, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- An Egyptian man identifies the body of a family member, a supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi killed during a violent crackdown by Egyptian Security Forces on pro-Morsi sit-in demonstrations the day before, at the al-Iman Mosque in Nasr City on August 15, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- An Egyptian man stands near a burning fire as he takes a picture of the damage at Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo on August 15, 2013, following a crackdown on the protest camps of supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi the previous day. The day’s violence was Egypt’s worst in decades, exceeding even that seen during the 18-day uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak. (Mahmoud Khaled/AFP/Getty Images)
- Egyptians search through the debris at Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo on August 15, 2013, following a crackdown on the protest camps of supporters of the Egypt’s ousted Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi the previous day. The day’s violence was Egypt’s worst in decades, exceeding even that seen during the 18-day uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak. (Mahmoud Khaled/AFP/Getty Images)
- Supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi lie wounded on the floor of the Rabaa al-Adaweya Medical Centre in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- A supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi reacts after identifying the body of a dead family member at of the Rabaa al-Adaweya Medical Centre in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- An injured Egyptian youth is seen at a makeshift hospital during clashes between supporters of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi and police in Cairo on August 14, 2013. (Mossab El-Shamy/AFP/Getty Images)
- A supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi sits wounded on the floor of the Rabaa al-Adaweya Medical Centre in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- A man grieves as he looks at one of many bodies laid out in a make shift morgue after Egyptian security forces stormed two huge protest camps at the Rabaa al-Adawiya and Al-Nahda squares where supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi were camped, in Cairo, on August 14, 2013. (Mossab El-Shamy/AFP/Getty Images)
- A supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi lies wounded on a stretcher in the Rabaa al-Adaweya Medical Centre in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- Turkish demonstrators hold a poster of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi during a demonstration condemning the deadly crackdown in Cairo on August 14, 2013 In Istanbul. Turkey branded the deadly crackdown in Egypt on protesters loyal to ousted president Mohamed Morsi today as “unacceptable” and called on the international community to act immediately to halt the “massacre.” (Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images)
- Egyptian security forces move in to disperse a protest camp held by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, on August 14, 2013 near Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood said at least 250 people were killed and over 5,000 injured in a police crackdown. (AFP/Getty Images)
- Supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi take shelter inside a construction site during a violent crackdown by Egyptian Security Forces on a pro-Morsi sit-in demonstration at the Rabaa al-Adweya Mosque in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- A supporter of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi holds his children tight as Egyptian security forces move in to disperse by force pro-Islamist protesters in a huge camp in Cairo’s Al-Nahda square on August 14, 2013. (Engy Imad/AFP/Getty Images)
- Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi chant slogans as they demonstrate in Egypt’s northern coastal city of Alexandria on August 14, 2013, against security forces clearing two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo. The clearance operation began shortly after dawn when security forces surrounded the sprawling Rabaa al-Adawiya camp in east Cairo and a similar one at Al-Nahda square, in the centre of the capital. (AFP/Getty Images)
- The body of a supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi lies on a stretcher in the morgue of the Rabaa al-Adaweya Medical Centre in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. An unknown number of pro-Morsi protesters were killed in Egypt’s capital today as Egyptian Security Forces undertook a planned operation to clear Morsi supporters from two sit-in demonstrations in Cairo where they have camped for over one month. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi run from tear gas during clashes with riot police and the army around the area of Rabaa Adawiya square, where the protesters are camping, in Cairo August 14, 2013. (Asmaa Waguih/Reuters)
- An Egyptian security forces’ armoured vehicle drives amidst remains of a protest camp by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood after a crackdown on August 14, 2013 near Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)
- Riot police clear the area of members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, at Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo August 14, 2013. Egyptian security forces killed at least 30 people on Wednesday when they cleared a camp of Cairo protesters who were demanding the reinstatement of deposed Mursi, his Muslim Brotherhood movement said. (Reuters)
- An injured supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is carried away from clashes on a stretcher during a violent crackdown by Egyptian Security Forces on a pro-Morsi sit-in demonstration at the Rabaa al-Adweya Mosque in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- A riot police officer assists a woman as they cleared the area of members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, at Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo August 14, 2013. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)
- Riot police clear the area of members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, at Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo August 14, 2013. Egyptian security forces killed at least 30 people on Wednesday when they cleared a camp of Cairo protesters who were demanding the reinstatement of deposed Mursi, his Muslim Brotherhood movement said. (Reuters)
- Dead bodies lie on the ground after an Egyptian police crackdown on a protest camp by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood on August 14, 2013 near Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)
- Supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi take shelter during a violent crackdown by Egyptian Security Forces on a pro-Morsi sit-in demonstration at the Rabaa al-Adweya Mosque in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- Supporters of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood run from tear gas smoke shot by police to disperse a pro-Morsi camp, on August 14, 2013 in Cairo. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)
- Bricks form the Arabic words: “There is no god but Allah” as smoke rises during clashes between riot police, and members and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, at Rabaa al-Adawiya Square, where the latter had been camping, in Cairo August 14, 2013. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)
- Supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi carry a protester injured during clashes with riot police and army at around the area of Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo August 14, 2013. (Asmaa Waguih /REuters)
- Egyptian security forces cordon off an area near Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque after a police crackdown on a protest camp by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood on August 14, 2013. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)
- Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood gesture as Egyptian security forces (unseen) move in to disperse their protest camp, on August 14, 2013 near Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. (AFP/Getty Images)
- Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi gesture in front of riot police and the army during clashes around Rabaa Adawiya square, where the protesters are camping, in Cairo August 14, 2013.(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)
- A supporter of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi gestures during clashes with riot police on a street leading to Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo on August 14, 2013, as security forces backed by bulldozers moved in on two huge pro-Morsi protest camps, launching a long-threatened crackdown that left dozens dead. (GianLuigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images)
- Supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi throw rocks while taking cover among debris during a violent crackdown by Egyptian Security Forces on a pro-Morsi sit-in demonstration at the Rabaa al-Adweya Mosque in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- Plumes of smoke rise from a damaged petrol station during a violent crackdown by Egyptian Security Forces on a pro-Morsi sit-in demonstration at the Rabaa al-Adweya Mosque in the Nasr City district on August 14, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. (Ed Giles/Getty Images)
- Egyptian supporters of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi confront riot police at Cairo’s Mustafa Mahmoud Square after security forces dispersed Morsi supporters on August 14, 2013. (AFP/Getty Images)
- Egyptian security forces move in to disperse a protest camp held by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, on August 14, 2013 near Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood said at least 250 people were killed and over 5,000 injured in a police crackdown. (AFP/Getty Images)
- Riot police vehicles fire tear gas at members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, around Cairo University and Nahdet Misr Square, where they are camping in Giza, south of Cairo August 14, 2013. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)
- Riot police and army personnel take them up positions during clashes with members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi around the area of Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo August 14, 2013. (Asmaa Waguih/Reuters)
Protesters storm Cairo building after bloodbath, US to review Egypt aid
Tom Perry and Alexander Dziadosz, Reuters
4:46 PM EDT, August 15, 2013
CAIRO (Reuters) – Supporters of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood stormed and torched a government building in Cairo on Thursday, while families tried to identify hundreds of mutilated bodies piled in a Cairo mosque a day after they were shot dead by the security forces.
Egypt’s health ministry says 623 people were killed and thousands wounded in the worst day of civil violence in the modern history of the most populous Arab state.
Brotherhood supporters say the death toll is far higher, with hundreds of bodies as yet uncounted by the authorities, whose troops and police crushed protests seeking the return of deposed President Mohamed Mursi.
State television quoted the Interior Ministry as saying the security forces would again use live ammunition to counter any attacks against themselves or public buildings.
The U.N. Security Council will meet later on Thursday to discuss the situation after a meeting was requested by council members France, Britain and Australia.
International condemnation has rained down on Cairo’s military-backed rulers for ordering the storming of pro-Mursi protest camps after dawn on Wednesday, six weeks after the army overthrew the country’s first freely elected leader.
The U.S. State Department said it would review aid to Egypt “in all forms” after President Barack Obama cancelled plans for upcoming military exercises with the Egyptian army, which Washington funds with $1.3 billion in annual aid.
“The United States strongly condemns the steps that have been taken by Egypt’s interim government and security forces,” Obama said.
“We deplore violence against civilians. We support universal rights essential to human dignity, including the right to peaceful protest.”
His Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Egypt’s army chief that “the violence and inadequate steps towards reconciliation are putting important elements of our longstanding defense cooperation at risk”.
Western diplomats have told Reuters that senior U.S. and European officials had been in contact with Egypt’s rulers until the final hour, pleading with them not to order a military crackdown on the protest camps, where thousands of Mursi’s followers had been camped out since before he was toppled.
There were reports of protests on Thursday but no repeat of the previous day’s bloodbath. In Alexandria, Egypt’s second largest city, hundreds marched, chanting: “We will come back again for the sake of our martyrs!”
Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad said anger within the 85-year-old Islamist movement, which has millions of supporters across Egypt, was “beyond control”.
“After the blows and arrests and killings that we are facing, emotions are too high to be guided by anyone,” he said.
The Brotherhood has called on followers to march in Cairo later on Thursday, while funeral processions for those who died could provide further flashpoints in the coming days.
In Cairo, Reuters counted 228 bodies, most of them wrapped in white shrouds, arranged in rows on the floor of the Al-Imam mosque in northeast Cairo, close to the worst of the violence.
The mosque had been converted into a charnel house, resembling the aftermath of a World War One battlefield. Medics pushed burning incense sticks into blocks of ice covering the bodies and sprayed air freshener to cover up the stench.
Some men pulled back the shrouds to reveal badly charred corpses with smashed skulls. Women knelt and wept beside one body. Two men embraced each other and shed tears by another.
The bodies, piled there because morgues and hospitals were full, did not appear to be part of the official tally of 525 killed, which also includes more than 40 police and hundreds killed in clashes outside of the capital.
Several thousand people gathered in the square outside the mosque, chanting: “The army and the police are a dirty hand!”
In the Giza section of Cairo, Mursi supporters set fire to a governorate building, and state television said two police officers were killed in an armed attack on a police checkpoint.
“MILITARY TYRANNY”
Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi removed Mursi from power on July 3 in the wake of huge protests by people frustrated at a lack of progress on economic reform and wary of what they saw as a creeping Islamist power grab.
The subsequent crackdown suggests an end to the open political role of the Brotherhood, which survived underground for decades before emerging as Egypt’s dominant force after autocrat Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a 2011 uprising.
“It’s not about Mursi any more. Are we going to accept a new military tyranny in Egypt or not?” Haddad said.
Shocking scenes, including television footage of unarmed protesters dropping to the ground as security forces opened fire, have been seen around the world, but many Egyptians support the crackdown and resent international criticism of the army.
“What happened was the only logical way to end their sit-ins, which did have weapons and … violent people,” said Ismail Khaled, 31-year-old manager in a private company. “Thank God the police ended them. I wish they had done so sooner.”
The authorities and their allies, which control nearly all media inside Egypt, insist those inside the pro-Mursi camps were heavily armed, although international journalists have seen only limited evidence of weapons beyond sticks and rocks.
Churches around the country were attacked and many torched on Wednesday, stoking fear of an Islamist backlash among the Christian minority, 10 percent of the population of 85 million.
Cairo and other areas were largely calm overnight after the army-installed government declared a month-long state of emergency and a curfew on the capital and 10 other provinces from 7 p.m. (1700 GMT) to 6 a.m.
Most large Egyptian companies remained open and shipping sources said the Suez Canal was operating normally, but the stock exchange was closed and the central bank told all banks to stay shut. Some international firms halted production in and around Cairo, including Electrolux and General Motors.
In other examples of international condemnation, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called for the West to speak out.
“I am calling on Western countries. You remained silent in Gaza, you remained silent in Syria … You are still silent on Egypt. So how come you talk about democracy, freedom, global values and human rights?” he told a news conference.
Senior EU diplomats will meet on Monday to assess the situation and consider possible action after what Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino called a “brutal, overwhelming and inexcusable” military reaction.
But the United Arab Emirates, one of several Gulf Arab states that collectively sent $12 billion to fund the interim government, said the Egyptian government had “exercised maximum self-control”.
Back on the streets of Cairo, some spoke of their despair.
“Yesterday I cried. I think we’re the furthest we’ve ever been from true reform or justice,” said Sara, who declined to give her last name, describing herself as a secular activist.
“I don’t believe that this is going to end in one month. I think is the beginning of another 30 years of military rule.”
(Additional reporting by Shadia Nasralla, Michael Georgy, Tom Finn and Yasmine Saleh in Cairo, Alexandria Sage in Paris and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Writing by Peter Graff and Mike Collett-White; Editing by Michael Georgy and Will Waterman)