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Egypt football: Death sentences over Port Said stadium violence | Egypt football: Death sentences over Port Said stadium violence |
(35 minutes later) | |
An Egyptian court has sentenced to death 21 defendants over clashes between rival football fans in which 74 people were killed in February 2012. | An Egyptian court has sentenced to death 21 defendants over clashes between rival football fans in which 74 people were killed in February 2012. |
The riots - Egypt's worst-ever football disaster - began after a top-league game at Port Said stadium. | The riots - Egypt's worst-ever football disaster - began after a top-league game at Port Said stadium. |
The ruling sparked a clash outside Port Said prison, where defendants are held, with two police officers shot dead. | |
The sentences came after clashes erupted on the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak. | The sentences came after clashes erupted on the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak. |
Thousands of people took to the streets on Friday to voice their opposition to Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, accusing him of betraying the revolution. | |
At least seven people were killed and more than 450 wounded in unrest across Egypt. | At least seven people were killed and more than 450 wounded in unrest across Egypt. |
Last year's football riots led to the suspension of the league. | Last year's football riots led to the suspension of the league. |
They began minutes after the game in Port Said. Fans of local side al-Masry fans invaded the pitch, hurling stones and fireworks at visiting supporters from Cairo club al-Ahly. | |
The violence in Port Said sparked riots in Cairo during which a further 16 people died. | The violence in Port Said sparked riots in Cairo during which a further 16 people died. |
A section of al-Ahly supporters, known as the "ultras", played a prominent role in the protests against ex-President Mubarak. | |
Some accused supporters of the toppled leader of instigating the Port Said violence. They also accused of doing little to prevent it. | |
When the death sentences were announced on Saturday, relatives of victims cheered in the courtroom. | |
However supporters and relatives of those sentenced tried to storm Port Said prison. Two policemen were killed in the clash, security officials said. | |
Seventy-three people, including policemen, were tried over the stadium clashes. | Seventy-three people, including policemen, were tried over the stadium clashes. |
The judge said he would announce the verdict for the remaining 52 defendants on 9 March. | The judge said he would announce the verdict for the remaining 52 defendants on 9 March. |
Economic 'collapse' | |
Friday saw a big anti-government rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square, with opposition supporters clashing with police. | |
There was also unrest in 12 out of 27 of Egypt's provinces. At least six of the deaths occurred in Suez. | |
In Ismailia, protesters set fire to the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. The city's governorate headquarters was later also stormed. | |
The liberal opposition accuses Mr Morsi of being autocratic and driving through a new constitution that does not protect adequately freedom of expression or religion. | |
The government is also being blamed for a deepening economic crisis. | |
One of the demonstrators at Cairo's Tahrir Square, Momen Asour, said he had come to demand an end to President Morsi's rule. | |
"We have not seen anything, Neither freedom, nor social justice, or any solution to unemployment, or any investment," he said. "On the contrary, the economy has collapsed." | |
President Morsi and his allies have dismissed the claim, saying they have a democratic mandate following recent elections. The constitution, drawn up by an Islamist-dominated body, was approved by referendum last month. |