Violence flared for a sixth day in the Arab world’s largest nation as protesters and police faced off in a deadly uprising that has left 50 dead and hundreds wounded. The bloodshed—sparked by the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak on Jan. 25—intensified Saturday with a riot after a Port Said court sentenced 21 fans involved in the soccer scandal to death. In spite of President Morsi’s state of emergency-generated curfew, the fighting raged on Tuesday, prompting Egypt’s army chief to warn of a “collapse of the state” if the political crisis continues. As the violence nears a seventh day, see photos of the unrest.
On Friday, the two-year anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, protesters clashed with police during a riot in Tahrir Square. With the anniversary, Egypt entered a new phase of its upheaval.
Egyptian riot police fire tear gas at protesters during clashes in front of the Semiramis Intercontinental hotel near Tahrir Square. Since Saturday, the Nile-side hotel has been on the front line of clashes between riot police and angry youths, with both sides throwing stones at each other along the city’s famed Corniche promenade while tear gas wafted several stories up inside the building.
Rebels are shown at Al-Horreya French school in Cairo on Saturday. Up to 30 people were killed and more than 300 others injured in clashes that erupted Saturday outside Port Said prison between security forces and family members of 21 convicts who were sentenced to death over the Port Said massacre, state TV reported. During the clashes, thugs sabotaged and stole items from the private school, taking advantage of the chaos around the Egyptian capital.
Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua, via Corbis
A group of Egyptian protesters takes shelter behind a stone wall during clashes with riot police in Tahrir Square on Friday in Cairo. Thousands of protesters converged on the capital’s iconic square to mark the second anniversary of the overthrow of the Mubarak regime.
Protesters clash with riot police, who used tear gas and small bombs to quell the crowds. Intense fighting for days around central Tahrir Square engulfed two landmark hotels and forced the U.S. Embassy to suspend public services on Tuesday.
Riot policemen beat a protester opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi during clashes along Qasr Al Nil bridge, which leads to Tahrir Square in Cairo, on Monday. It was the fifth day of violence in Egypt, prompting the Islamist president to declare a state of emergency in an attempt to end a wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world’s biggest nation.
Protesters opposing Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi battle with riot police along Qasr Al Nil bridge, which leads to Tahrir Square In Cairo, on Jan. 29.
Demonstrators opposing the Morsi government hide in a cabinet during clashes with police.
A group of Egyptian protesters take cover from nearby Egyptian riot police during a protest after 21 suspects were sentenced to death in connection with a football stadium massacre last year. The verdict was handed down during a period of high tension across Egypt, just one day after deadly protests erupted on the second anniversary of the beginning of Egypt’s 2011 revolution.
An Egyptian protester evacuates an injured boy during clashes on Friday. The mainly liberal and secular opposition held rallies calling for the goals of the pro-democracy uprising to be met and denouncing Morsi.
Protesters opposing Morsi during clashes with police near Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday.
Egyptian protesters dismantle the wall erected by security in Cairo. Huge crowds gathered to demonstrate their opposition to Morsi on the second anniversary of Egypt’s revolution.
Mohammed Abed/AFP, via Getty
Egyptian protesters celebrate the capture of a state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces and brought to Tahrir Square in Cairo on Tuesday. Egypt’s army chief warned of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest.
