CAIRO: Hundreds of people have reportedly been shot dead by Egyptian security forces who tried to clear two protest camps loyal to deposed president Mohamed Morsi.
Sky news reported from inside the Rabaa al Adawiya camp in Cairo, that the camp was “under very heavy gunfire” and was a “massive military assault on largely unarmed civilians in very large numbers”.
He said government forces were using machine guns, snipers, M16s, AK47s and were firing into the crowd.
“There are machine gun rounds, and snipers on the roof, that are preventing people from getting any closer to the field hospital (in the camp), a reporter for the channel said.
The camp is full of women and children.”
He said it was a scene of “extreme chaos and bloodshed” and “many hundreds of troops and interior ministry police and special forces are involved”.
“The dead and dying are on the steps of this improvised field hospital. The scenes here are absolutely graphic.
“I have covered many wars and this is as severe a battlefield as I have witnessed, with the exception of scenes in Rwanda. There are dozens and dozens of people who have been shot in the head, neck and upper body.”
However, Egyptian authorities have released video footage taken from a helicopter which it says show gunmen in the camp firing at security forces.
The unrest may be spreading as there were reports of pro-Morsi supporters clashing with police in the cities of Minya and Assiut.
Earlier, police in Cairo backed by armoured vehicles and bulldozers also fired tear gas at the demonstrators who are demanding Mr Morsi be reinstated as the country’s leader.
The interior ministry, which is in charge of police, warned its security forces would deal firmly with protesters acting “irresponsibly” and said it would guarantee safe passage to those who want to leave the two sites.
The larger is the Rabaa al Adawiya camp described as a ‘mini town’ in Nasr City, while the other is in Al Nahda Square outside the main campus of Cairo University in Giza.
The interior ministry later said security forces had “total control” over the smaller camp and police have managed to remove most of the tents in the square.
The Muslim Brotherhood that backs ousted Islamist president Mr Morsi claimed over 250 people had been killed and 5,000 hurt in the crackdown, which is almost certain to deepen political turmoil in Egypt.
It urged Egyptians to take to the streets in their thousands to denounce the “massacre”.
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