Egypt police quit Port Said HQ as army takes over
Iran Press TV
Fri Mar 8, 2013 2:14PM GMT
Egyptian police have withdrawn from their headquarters in the turbulent canal city of Port Said following attacks by protesters, transferring control to the military, the Interior Ministry says.
"It has been decided to give the military the responsibility of securing the police headquarters," the Egyptian Interior Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The interior ministry said the withdrawal was aimed to "to calm tensions" in the restive Suez Canal city.
The military has been deployed in Port Said since rioting began in late January after a court handed death penalties to 21 defendants involved in a deadly 2012 football riot.
The clashes erupted at Port Said Stadium following an Egyptian premier league football match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly killed 74 people - mostly Al-Ahly fans.
On Saturday, the court is due to sit again, this time in Cairo for security reasons, to pass a verdict on the remaining 52 defendants.
If convicted, defendants are sentenced simultaneously under Egypt's justice system.
Egypt braces for more violence as protests continue against the previous death sentences, Al-Ahly fans have threatened to stage violent protests should the court issue lenient verdicts.
Early on Friday, a protester was shot dead in clashes in Port Said after another death on Thursday.
MRS/JR
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