Egypt Daily Update – July 8: 51 Killed in Clashes between Military and Morsi Top Stories Also of Interest: July 8, 2013 Can ElBaradei Keep Egypt • 51 Killed in Clashes between Military and Morsi Supporters Together? Can Anyone? • Parties Negotiating Formation of Transitional Government • Egyptians Demonstrate for ‘Popular Legitimacy’ Who Will Stand with Egyptian • Islamists React to Arrests Following Morsi’s Removal Democracy • Militants Target Armed Forces After Recent Events Morsi’s Ouster Fuels Debate on U.S. Policy on the Mideast 51 Killed in Clashes between Military and Morsi Supporters Early Monday morning clashes erupted between Egyptian security forces and supporters of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi staging a sit-in near the headquarters of the Republican Guard. Fifty-one people were killed and over 300 more injured. There was one soldier among those killed and 40 more among the wounded. The details surrounding the outbreak of violence remain unclear at this time, though the Muslim Brotherhood released a statement claiming that the attack was premeditated. According their report, the army began firing tear gas on protesters during prayer and later used live ammunition against them in an effort to clear the area. The military responded, saying that they arrested over 200 hundred protesters possessing a variety of weapons Truth in Numbers: How much ranging from Molotov Cocktails to firearms. Al-Masry al-Youm initially reported that the violence escalated after protesters began throwing rocks at the soldiers Legitimacy is Legitimate? eventually causing them to open fire on them. Another media outlet reported that the military responded to militants’ attempts to storm the Republican Guard’s headquarters. The Republican Guard clashes sparked outrage throughout Egypt and abroad, causing numerous political actors to demand an investigation into the violence. Al-Azhar released a statement denouncing the violence and demanding the immediate investigation into the events, and the al-Nour party officially withdrew from the political negotiations on the formation of the interim government. Former presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh called on interim president Adly Mansour to step down in response to violence. Mohamed ElBaradei and the NSF separately released statements calling for an independent investigation into the events and condemning the violence. The British Foreign Minister, William Hague, demanded that the Egyptian authorities conduct an investigation into the events and urged for self-restraint, and the EU foreign ministry also expressed its concern. In response, Adly Mansour released a statement announcing his decision to form a judicial committee to investigate the events. back to top Sources “Update-Health Ministry: Not True that women and children among injured at Republican Guard Violence,” el-Watan (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Al-Azhar Condemns Republican Guard Events Demands Investigations,” Shorouk (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Hague Demands Investigation into Republican Guard Events, Calls for Self Restraint,” Shorouk (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Erian: What happened in Egypt is not the coming of a Civil War,” Shorouk (Arabic) 7/8/13 “President of the Republican Forms Judicial Committee to Investigate Republican Guard Events,” Shorouk (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Presidency Forms Committee to Investigate Republican Guard Events,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Abul Fotouh Demands Interim President Resign Rejecting ‘crime of Republican Guard,’” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Army and Police Clear out Sit-in in Front of the Republican Guard after Clashes with Morsi’s Adherents,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Abul Fotouh Calls on Interim President to Step Down,” Ahram Online (English) 7/8/13 “Egypt’s NSF Condemns Republican Guard HQ Violence,” Ahram Online (English) 7/8/13 “Egypt’s Brotherhood Calls for Uprising against Coup,” Ahram Online (English) 7/8/13 “Update 4: 42 die in clashes between Egypt army and pro-Morsi Protesters,” Ahram Online (English) 7/8/13 “At Least 42 Dead 300 Injured in Pro-Morsi, Army Clashes,” Daily News Egypt (English) 7/8/13 “Egypt’s Interim Government Forms Committee to Investigate Violence,” Aswat Masriya (English) 7/8/13 Parties Negotiating Formation of Transitional Government Egyptian interim President Adly Mansour and a broad spectrum of political groups conducted intense negotiations over the weekend in their efforts to form an interim government. It was initially announced late Saturday that Nobel Laureate and Constitution Party founder Mohamed ElBaradei would be sworn in as Prime Minister later that day, though the government later issued a statement that no candidate for the post had been chosen and that ElBaradei was still in the running. According to internal sources, the Salafi Nour Party blocked the nomination of ElBaradei to the position. Nour justified the decision to block the nomination, saying that there should be a consensus surrounding the appointment and that the new government should be “transitional” in nature and they should avoid “partisan personalities.” On Sunday, several media outlets reported that former Social Democratic Party leader Ziad Bahaa al-Din was tapped to become Egypt’s next Prime Minister. When contacted about the appointment al-Din said the decision was neither “final nor official.” Egypt’s Popular Current leader, Hamdeen Sabahhi, urged the formation of a new government as quickly as possible in order to address the needs of the country. back to top Sources “Source: 5 Non-partisan personalities serve in the agriculture ministry,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Presidency: Republican Guard violence will not impede formation of Government,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Al-Nour Rejects Nomination of ElBaradie to any Position and Objects to Baha el-Din’s Nomination to Prime Minister,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/7/13 “April 6: We are in contact with al-Nour pushing for ElBaradie’s nomination to PM,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Strong Egypt Party Stresses Reconciliation,” Daily News Egypt (English) 7/8/13 “ElBaradei not Prime Minister,” Daily News Egypt (English) 7/8/13 “Egypt on Track to Form Interim Government Despite Violence,” Aswat Masriya (English) 7/8/13 Egyptians Demonstrate for ‘Popular Legitimacy’ Several Egyptian cities witnessed another wave of massive protests in support of the military and the transitional government. The demonstrations were organized under the slogan “popular legitimacy,” refuting deposed president Mohamed Morsi claims to democratic legitimacy through the ballot box. The demonstrations also came in response to the continued sit-in of Morsi’s adherents calling for his return to office. Assuit, Alexandria, Luxor, Cairo, Beheira were all among cities reported to witness large demonstrations. back to top Sources “Hundreds from Revolutionary Forces in Assuit Participate in Millions for the People Legitimacy,” Shorouk (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Mass Demonstrations of Hundreds of Thousands in Luxor Supporting the Military,” Shorouk (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Mass Rallies of Thousands in Ghardaqa Square Supporting Sisi,” Shorouk (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Hundreds Celebrate in Front of Baheira Governorate Building in Millions for the People’s Legitimacy,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Egyptians Hold Mass Demonstrations in Support of Popular Will,” Ahram Online (English) 7/8/13 Islamists React to Arrests following Mori’s Removal The Muslim Brotherhood has issued a statement addressing the recent wave of arrests and violence levied against the group. The statement claimed that the recent actions of the military amount to “coup d’état” and that the Brotherhood stands for a democratic Egypt. The statement then appealed to the “great, gallant army” while condemning the army’s leaders. It also condemned the recent spate of arrests levied against Brotherhood officials in high positions. Brotherhood leaders have compared the recent wave of arrests of leadership to the violent oppression the organization faced during the reign of Hosni Mubarak. The government also announced arrest warrant for two high profile members of al-Gamaa al-Islamiya for inciting violence in Giza earlier this week. Both dismissed the charges as “fabricated.” back on top Sources “Muslim Brotherhood Statement on Current Events,” FJP Online (English) 7/8/13 “Arrest Warrants for Issued for Islamist Leaders,” Daily News Egypt (English) 7/8/13 “Muslim Brotherhood Leaders Detained,” Daily News Egypt (English) 7/8/13 “Muslim Brotherhood: Prosecution of Supporters Reminds of Mubarak Oppression,” FJP Online (English) 7/8/13 “Investigation of Morsi and Brotherhood Leaders Delayed Due to Security Situation,” Shorouk (Arabic) 7/8/13 Militants Target Armed Forces after Recent Events Egyptian security personnel continue to face armed attacks following the removal of Mohamed Morsi from office. The state-run al-Ahram reported that two policemen were shot and killed in the Sinai on Sunday. In addition, militants attacked four checkpoints in the North Sinai and the airport in al-Arish. The military is expected to conduct operations in response shortly. In related news, the military announced that supporters of President Morsi kidnapped two soldiers in ‘Ain Shams on Sunday. According to El-Watan, the soldiers later escaped from their kidnappers. back to top Sources “Armed Forces: Deposed president’s adherents kidnap soldiers in Ain Shams,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Armed Forces Stumble upon Weapons at Freedom and Justice Party HQ in Bab al-Louq,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Kidnapped Soldiers Escaped from Deposed President’s Adherents,” El-Watan (Arabic) 7/8/13 “Two Policemen Shot in Sinai,” Ahram Online (English) 7/8/13 – Daniel Stoker (Any questions, comments, or suggestions can be sent to [email protected]) follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend Copyright © 2013 The Project on Middle East Democracy, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from all POMED mailings | update subscription preferences .