Egypt declares nationwide state of emergency

Egypt has declared a month-long state of emergency in Cairo and several other provinces after violent clashes between security forces and thousands of supporters of the ousted president, Mohammed Morsi, claimed thousands of lives in Cairo.

The curfew, which will continue from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., began on Wednesday at 4:00 pm local time (14:00 GMT), the office of the interim president announced in a statement on state TV.

The Egyptian state TV announced earlier that the protesters were evacuated from their camps in Rabaa al-Adawiya camp and al-Nahda Square by the security forces.

According to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, at least 2,200 people were killed and 10,000 others injured in the crackdown by the Egyptian security forces on protest sit-ins held by Morsi supporters in Cairo.

Police reportedly used tear gas, armored cars and bulldozers to disperse Morsi supporters.

Egypt has plunged into unrelenting string of violence since General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the head of the Egyptian army pushed aside the first democratically elected president and declared chief Justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, as the interim president.

On August 12, the Anti-Coup Pro-Democracy Alliance called on people to hold nationwide rallies to counter the military clampdown on their sit-ins.

The Egyptian army had earlier warned of taking action against the supporters of the ousted president.