Egyptian politicians call for end to street violence

Over 100 people have been injured after a Brotherhood protest against lawyers Figures from across Egypt’s political spectrum have called for an end to demonstrations across the country after 105 people were injured since clashes first broke out on Friday. Egyptian police made 39 arrests after clashes between Islamists and opponents that saw both sides use firearms in central Cairo, leaving more than 100 people injured, officials said on Saturday.
A judicial source said prosecutors have begun questioning the suspects, as the Health Ministry said Friday's violence had injured 105 people.
The clashes began after opposition activists marched on Islamists holding a rally outside the Supreme Court to demand the ouster of judges they believe are opposed to Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
The violence, in which opposition activists fired birdshot rounds on Islamists and then at riot police, centred around the iconic Tahrir Square, epicentre of mass protests in early 2011 that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak.
Politicians have called for demonstrations to be suspended, in attempts to halt the bloodshed.
Socialist Coalition Party chairman Abdel-Ghaffar Shokr warned violence would continue to spread.
“The youth have returned to our city squares because they have failed to achieve freedom since the January 25 Revolution,” he said.
“The performance of President Mohammed Morsi has led to this situation, because he has chosen to serve the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood and not the Egyptians who elected him.”
Political science professor Mohamed Abdel-Shafy also told Arabstoday the Muslim Brotherhood were the root cause of recent clashes.
“The Brotherhood organised demonstrations to rally large numbers of people – that increased the political tension,” he said.
Abdel-Shafy has called for a moratorium on all forms of demonstration until calm has returned to Egypt.