Eurasia Press & News
Fresh violence targeted the security forces in a tense Egypt Thursday, as Washington cancelled a joint military exercise in response to a crackdown on protesters that killed nearly 600 people.
Security sources said at least seven soldiers and a policeman were killed in attacks in the Sinai peninsula, and another policeman was killed in the central city of Assuit.
With the country under a state of emergency and many provinces hit by night-time curfews, the interior ministry ordered police to take tough measures after a series of attacks on government buildings.
The death toll from nationwide clashes following Wednesday’s operation to clear two protest camps in support of ousted president Mohamed Morsi rose to 578, making it the country’s bloodiest day in decades.
International criticism of the bloodshed poured in, with diplomats saying the UN Security Council would hold an emergency meeting on Egypt at 2130 GMT on Thursday at the request of Australia, Britain and France.
The carnage prompted fierce international condemnation, led by the United States, with President Barack Obama announcing a joint US-Egyptian military exercise would be cancelled.
“While we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual when civilians are being killed in the streets and rights are being rolled back,” he said.
