Egyptian security forces clash with protesters outside Brotherhood HQ in Cairo

Egypt’s security forces have clashed with protesters outside Muslim Brotherhood (MB) headquarters in the capital city, Cairo.

On Sunday, the security forces guarding the MB headquarters in Mouqatam district, near central Cairo, fired tear gas to disperse dozens of protesters who were hurling stones at the guards.

The demonstrators staged the protest against what they called an assault on journalists.

The protest came a day after the MB supporters attacked a cameraman and a group of journalists covering a meeting between Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal outside the headquarters of the party.

Earlier on Sunday, the Egyptian security forces intensified their presence in the area to prevent the protesters’ likely attacks into the building.

On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Cairo, chanting slogans against President Mohamed Morsi and holding banners which read, “Down with Brotherhood rule.”

The protests turned violent after a group of demonstrators tried to break through security forces.

The newly elected head of the Journalists’ Syndicate, Diaa Rashwan, slammed the police violence and called on Badie to apologize over the assaults.

Rashwan also urged Morsi to condemn the incidents.

He did not rule out the likelihood that the attacks against the journalists had been carried out under the order of the MB leaders.

MB spokesperson Yasser Mehrez has denied the accusations, saying, “Clashes erupted because some people tried to break into the Brotherhood’s headquarters. The young members of the Brotherhood did not intend to assault journalists or anyone else.”

“Everybody has freedom of expression and the right to protest, but insults and sabotage are unacceptable,” he added.

The Sunday protests in downtown Cairo was the first of three demonstrations scheduled to be staged by the journalists.

The next protests will be held at the prosecutor-general’s office on Tuesday and outside of the MB’s headquarters on Wednesday.