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2 Killed in Cairo Clashes, Mursi Flies to Berlin

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Two people died in clashes between protesters and police near Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Wednesday, medics said.

Both of the victims, neither of whom was identified, were hit by buckshot. One died at the scene, while the other died in hospital.

Their deaths bring to four the number killed in Cairo and to 54 the nationwide total since violence broke out on Thursday. Most of the deaths have been in Port Said, where clashes erupted on Saturday after a court issued death sentences against 21 supporters of a local football club for their role in deadly riots last year.

Egypt’s President Mohammad Mursi flew Wednesday to Berlin for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in a visit shortened to just a few hours after days of unrest, official media said.

The visit will center on bilateral cooperation as well as the situation in Egypt, official news agency MENA said. Mursi’s trip had originally been expected to last two days. It will be the president’s first visit to Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, since his election in June last year.

Hours before Morsi’s arrival, Germany’s foreign minister warned that German financial aid to Egypt is contingent upon democratic progress. Berlin’s offer of help “depends on advances in the democratic development in Egypt”, Guido Westerwelle said on ARD public television.

“These last days we have seen some terrible pictures, images of violence and destruction,” Westerwelle said, calling for dialogue between the Egyptian government and opposition.

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