REPORT: Egypt death toll climbs to 65 in Cairo

                                 
A Health Ministry official said at least 65 people have been killed in clashes in the Egyptian capital between police and supporters of the country's ousted President Mohammed Morsi.                 
It is the highest death toll in a single incident since the military ousted Morsi on July 3 following days of mass protests against him.         

Health Ministry official Khaled el-Khatib said Saturday other clashes in Alexandria killed nine since Friday. Nearly 750 people were wounded in violence nationwide, nearly 270 of them in Cairo.                 

In the Cairo clashes early Saturday, witnesses and wounded protesters said police fired at the pro-Morsi crowd. Many of those killed were shot in the head or chest, according to doctors.           
This comes after the interior minister said that Morsi, who has been accused of murder and other crimes, is likely to be transferred to the same Cairo prison where former leader Hosni Mubarak is now held.          

Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim also told a news conference that pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo would "God willing, soon ... dealt with" based on a decision by the prosecutor.               

He said a decision on where to hold Morsi, whose current location has not been announced, would be up to the investigating judge. When pressed by journalists about where Morsi would be taken, he said "mostly likely to Torah" prison.              

Earlier, police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Morsi supporters near the sit-in, setting off clashes that lasted for hours in a possible sign of a new intolerance for marches that block city streets.                                    

The clashes erupted following a day when millions took to the streets answering a call from the army chief, who said he wanted a mandate to stop "potential terrorism" by Morsi supporters.                                          
Morsi's supporters also showed no signs of backing down, though they turned out in vastly smaller numbers. The demonstrations in Cairo were mostly peaceful into the evening. But by late Friday night in Cairo, A field hospital doctor said seven protesters were killed and hundreds injured.                          

International Positions:           

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton "deeply deplores" deaths during demonstrations in Egypt and urges all sides to halt violence, the EU said.           

"(Ashton) is following with concern the latest developments in Egypt and deeply deplores the loss of life during yesterday's demonstrations ... She also calls on all actors to refrain from violence and to respect the principles of peaceful protest and non-violence," a spokeswoman for Ashton said.                   


AP/REUTERS


For the full report please click on the VIDEO above