Egypt's general-prosecutor Hesham Barakat (Photo: Ahram)
Egypt's General-Prosecutor Hesham Barakat opened an investigation Saturday into overnight clashes near Rabaa El-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo's Nasr City district that left scores dead.
Barakat delegated a team of prosecutors to investigate the violence. It is expected that they inspect the site of the clashes at the Unknown Soldier Memorial, located near Rabaa Al-Adawyia Mosque, and speak to eyewitnesses and victims.
Violence erupted in the early hours of Saturday in Nasr City district when police clashed with supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi seeking to block the nearby 6th October Bridge.
Egypt's health ministry reported 38 dead and 239 people injured. Brotherhood figures put the number of dead at over 120, with more than 4000 injured.
The Muslim Brotherhood claims that police opened fire on peaceful protesters. However, Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said in a press conference Saturday that the police only used tear gas on the crowds.
The ministry said in an earlier statement that the Muslim Brotherhood clashed with residents of the nearby Mansheyet Nasser working class district using firearms.
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