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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 21 people to death over football riots that killed 74 last year, with the verdict sparking fresh deadly violence. | |
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 caused anger in Port Said, where eight people died as supporters of the defendants clashed with police. | |
The new violence comes after a day of unrest 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. | 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 invaded the pitch, hurling stones and fireworks at visiting supporters from Cairo club al-Ahly. | They began minutes after the game in Port Said. Fans of local side al-Masry 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. | 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 them of doing little to prevent it. | Some accused supporters of the toppled leader of instigating the Port Said violence. They also accused them of doing little to prevent it. |
All 21 defendants sentenced to death on Saturday were al-Masry fans. When the verdicts were announced by a judge in the Cairo court, relatives of victims cheered. | All 21 defendants sentenced to death on Saturday were al-Masry fans. When the verdicts were announced by a judge in the Cairo court, relatives of victims cheered. |
However, the ruling sparked violence in Port Said, Supporters and relatives of those sentenced tried to storm the prison where the defendants are held. | |
The eight people who died in the clash included two policemen, officials say. Army units were deployed on the city's streets following the violence. | |
Seventy-three people, including nine policemen, were tried over the stadium clashes. None are al-Ahly fans. | Seventy-three people, including nine policemen, were tried over the stadium clashes. None are al-Ahly fans. |
The judge said he would announce verdicts for the remaining defendants on 9 March. | The judge said he would announce verdicts for the remaining defendants on 9 March. |
Economic 'collapse' | Economic 'collapse' |
Friday saw a big anti-government rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square, with opposition supporters clashing with police. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. |