Saudi media is reporting that Egyptian security forces have dispersed a demonstration by student supporters of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood who attempted to storm the Al-Azhar institute in Cairo on Wednesday. According to an Asharq Al-Awsat report:
November 19, 2013. (Reuters) Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egypt’s security forces dispersed a demonstration by students affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood who attempted to storm the Al-Azhar institute in southern Cairo on Wednesday.
The police also evacuated Tahrir Square following violent clashes with pro-Brotherhood protesters.
At least two people were killed and 40 others injured when the police dispersed protesters who were commemorating the civil unrest and clashes with the security forces in 2011 which left dozens of protesters dead, medical sources informed Asharq Al-Awsat.
Protesters were marking the second anniversary of the Mohamed Mahmoud Street protests against the ruling military coalition. The 2011 clashes between protesters and security forces lasted six days and left 47 dead and at least 3,000 injured.
In a statement released on its official Facebook page, the Egyptian Interior Ministry revealed that around one thousand Brotherhood-affiliated students marched on Al-Azhar institute on Wednesday ‘in an attempt to storm it and blocked the Salah Salem road and flow of traffic movement.’
According to the statement, security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators and restore calm.
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Al-Azhar is located in Cairo and the Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest educational institutions in the Islamic world. In July 2008, we reported that Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Qaradawi had been elected to the Al-Azhar Islamic Research Council. However, last month the GMBDW reported that senior Al-Azhar scholars had called for prosecuting the cleric for what they called “high treason.