Egyptian Forces Drag Islamists Out Of Cairo Mosque

Egyptian security forces have cleared
remaining Islamist protesters from a Cairo
mosque after a stand-off and an exchange
of fire, a security source has told AFP. Supporters of ousted Islamist president
Mohamed Morsi were dragged from the
mosque by police on Saturday, the official
said. Witnesses said that Egyptian security
forces stormed the al-Fateh mosque after
firing tear gas at hundreds of supporters of
the country’s ousted president barricaded
inside. The mosque served as a field hospital and
morgue following clashes on Friday in the
area. Earlier, while trying to drag supporters of
ousted president Mohamed Morsi out of a
Cairo mosque, crowds tried to attack them,
refusing to leave the mosque, despite being
surrounded by security forces, including
police who fired in the air to keep mobs from attacking the Islamists. Witnesses said that Egyptian security
forces stormed the al-Fateh mosque after
firing tear gas at hundreds of supporters of
the country’s ousted president barricaded
inside. Local journalist Shaimaa Awad said on
Saturday that security forces rounded up
protesters inside the mosque, located in
Cairo’s central Ramses Square. Egypt’s official news agency MENA reported
that gunmen opened fire on security forces
from the mosque’s minaret. Local television stations broadcast live
footage of soldiers firing assault rifles at
the minaret. The mosque served as a field hospital and
morgue following clashes on Friday in the
area. The protesters barricaded themselves
inside overnight out of fears of being
beaten by vigilante mobs or being arrested
by authorities.