BBC News with Julie Candler.
The Egyptian security forces have carried out a day-long assault in Cairo on camps of supporters loyal to the ousted President Mohammed Morsi with the heavy loss of life. By evening the security forces backed by bulldozers have seized control of the main camp near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. BBC’s Bethany Bell is in Cairo.
Early this morning, security forces moved in to disperse two protest camps with supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi have been holding out for weeks. There were violent clashes between riot police and the protesters. Shots were fired amid crowds of teargas. Protestors burned tyres and threw rocks. The authorities say they are now in control of both camps. A curfew has been imposed in Cairo and in several provinces around the country.
The Health Ministry said that across Egypt 278 people have been killed including 43 policemen, many more are injured. But Muslim Brotherhood has said more than 2,000 people died in the clashes.
The United States has strongly condemned the violence against the protestors. The Secretary of State John Kerry said it was a serious blow to efforts of reconciliation. Kim Ghattas reports from Washington.
The American Secretary of State John Kerry said the violence in Egypt was deplorable and a real blow to reconciliation efforts. He called on all sides to take a step back. Mr. Kerry said the interim government and the country’s generals had a unique responsibility to avoid an escalation. Mr. Kerry said that he has spoken to the Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy and believed that a path to a political solution was still open but made more difficult by today’s violence.