Egypt

Breaking: 13 arrested as clashes erupt again in downtown Cairo

Clashes broke out again between protesters and security forces Tuesday evening near the US Embassy in downtown Cairo, according to State Television’s website.

Unnamed security sources say 13 were arrested during the renewed violence that also damaged the exterior of the Semiramis Hotel. 

State Television also reported a masked man had firing birdshot at security forces before fleeing the scene. Anonymous assailants also tried to hijack a police vehicle parked at the Qasr al-Nil bridge.

Clashes were also reported earlier Tuesday in the same area between people attending the funeral of activist Mohamed al-Shafei and security forces near the Semiramis Hotel on the corniche. The funeral goers had reportedly pelted officers with rocks, and the officers responded with tear gas.

Hundreds showed up for the funeral held at Omar Makram Mosque.

Shafie's body was found on 26 February. An autopsy showed he had died from a birdshot wound to his head on 30 January, a day after he had gone missing.

Shafie's family recovered his body at Cairo's Zeinhum morgue late Sunday.

The Azbakiya Public Prosecution is still investigating his death. According to officials, Shafie’s mother said he had been going to buy clothes in downtown Cairo when he went missing.

Several other activists have also gone missing since protests commemorating the second anniversary of the 2011 uprising began in January.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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