Mahmoud Khaled / AFP – Getty Images
Muslim Brotherhood supporters rallying in support of deposed President Mohammed Morsi clash with police outside the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo early on Monday.
By Charlene Gubash and Jason Cumming, NBC News
CAIRO — At least 42 were killed and 322 injured in clashes early Monday near the Republican Guard headquarters in the Egyptian capital, according to a Ministry of Health source.
Supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi had been holding a sit-in near the building.
The Islamist politician was forced out by Egypt’s military last week just one year into his four-year term in the wake of huge protests. He was replaced by an interim leader.
Members of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood have been protesting near the Republican Guard headquarters since he was ousted, amid speculation he may be under house arrest at the site.
Reuters cited Egyptian military as saying “a terrorist group” had tried to storm the building early Monday.
However, witness Al-Shaimaa Younes told the Associated Press that troops and police forces opened fire on the protesters during early morning prayers.
“They opened fire with live ammunition and lobbed tear gas,” she added. “There was panic and people started running. I saw people fall.”
NBC News was not immediately able to reconcile the differing accounts.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
This story was originally published on Mon Jul 8, 2013 4:19 AM EDT
42 dead in Cairo clashes
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