Egyptian security forces killed at least 30 people on Wednesday (August 14) clearing a camp of Cairo protesters who were demanding the reinstatement of deposed President Mohamed Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood said.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the deaths at Rabaa al-Adawiya, where thousands of Mursi supporters who have been gathered for six weeks awoke to an army operation and police helicopters circling the site.
The state news agency said security forces had started implementing a phased plan to disperse the protesters, which is almost certain to deepen political turmoil in Egypt.
On the other side of Cairo, smoke could be seen rising above the Nahda protest camp after security forces moved in to disperse protesters. State TV later reported that security forces had cleared that camp.
Two members of the security forces were shot dead during the camps clearout, the state news agency reported.