Egypt violence: Death toll in Cairo clashes climbs to 72

Cairo: A Health Ministry official says the death toll in weekend clashes in Cairo between supporters of Egypt’s ousted president and security forces backed by armed civilians has risen to 72. Khaled el-Khateeb, head of the ministry’s emergency and intensive care department, says another eight died in clashes in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. In a Sunday statement, he said 792 people were wounded in both incidents, which spanned Friday and early Saturday. [caption id=“attachment_991807” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Rallies in Cairo. AP.[/caption] The Cairo violence took place when pro-Morsi protesters sought to expand their sit-in camp by moving onto a nearby main boulevard, only to be confronted by police and armed civilians. It was the deadliest single outbreak of violence since the military ousted Morsi in a July 3 coup that followed protests in which millions demanded he step down. AP