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Deadly Violence Erupts as Egyptians Mark Anniversary of Uprising




Deadly violence has marred Egyptian ceremonies marking the third anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.

At least 12 people were killed Saturday in anti-government protests, which took place as thousands of people gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square in a show of support for the current government.

Police fired tear gas and gunshots into air to disperse protesters at smaller anti-government demonstrations in Cairo and several other cities. Video has shown government supporters in Cairo hurling rocks at opponents who include backers of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and those opposed to the current military-installed government.

Thousands of people flooded Tahrir Square for government sanctioned celebrations marking the anniversary of the uprising. Some waved flags and posters as they pledged support for defense minister and defacto leader General Abdel Fatah el-Sissi. Some of his supporters have been urging him to run for president.

As Saturday's ceremony got underway, a car bomb exploded near a security facility in the city of Suez. Earlier in the day, a bomb exploded near a Cairo police academy.



The blasts come a day after six police officers were killed in a series of explosions that rocked Cairo.

An al-Qaida inspired group in Egypt has claimed responsibility for Friday's bombings.

Asar Beit al-Maqdis, or Partisans for Jerusalem, released a statement Saturday claiming responsibility.
The statement also warned Muslims to stay away from police stations.

The Friday bombings were part of a wave of unrest across Egypt that left at least 20 people dead. Authorities say the remaining deaths occurred in clashes among Islamist protesters, their secular opponents and police.

The 2011 Arab Spring uprising that swept through large parts of the Middle East raised hopes in Egypt for a stable democracy in the Arab world's largest nation.

Instead, the country has been mired in political turmoil, as Islamist backers of ousted president Morsi battle to regain control of the country from the military-backed government that drove him from power.

Mr. Morsi came to power as Egypt's first democratically elected president after Hosni Mubarak stepped down under pressure three years ago.

Last year, the military-backed government of secularists and liberals that replaced Mr. Morsi also designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group following a bombing of security offices that killed 15 people.

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