The number of those injured in Friday’s clashes between supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and liberal opposition activists in Cairo’s Tahrir Square over the rise of radical Islamism and deteriorating living conditions in the country has risen to 110, the Egyptian Health Ministry reported.
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Cairo after noon prayers to voice their disappointment with the government policies, which, in their opinion, failed to uphold the gains of the 18-day popular uprising that ousted long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.
Earlier, it was reported that 40 people were injured.
Rocks have been thrown at opposing factions and Muslim Brotherhood supporters have taken down the stage prepared for speakers from the opposition.
Morsi's supporters, mainly from Muslim Brotherhood, had called their rally to condemn this week's acquittals of Mubarak-era officials, while his opponents had previously called their own rally to slam Islamist control over a body drafting the new constitution, as well as Morsi's actions, Al Jazeera reported.
The protests come as the economic situation facing millions of Egyptians continues to worsen. Unemployment in the country has soared to 20 percent, and foreign currency reserves are at a dangerous all-time low.
Morsi has taken personal responsibility for failing to implement in full a plan for Egypt’s recovery that he pledged to execute in the first 100 days of his presidency.
