Security forces blocked a main road in the working-class northern Cairo district of Matariya on Tuesday night, in anticipation of more protests after two days of clashes in the area left at least 14 people killed. Military armoured vehicles, along with central security forces, closed Al-Horreya Street from two directions, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. El-Horreya has been the main spot where marches of pro-Muslim Brotherhood protesters gather. The district, along with the adjacent area of Ain Shams, both Islamist hotbeds, have witnessed almost weekly protests by supporters of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in the year and a half that followed his ouster. Demonstrations have usually descended into violence and deadly confrontations with the security forces or local civilian opponents. On the anniversary of the January 25 revolution, fierce clashes in Matariya killed 12 people, including two conscripts and a ten-year-old boy. The violent clashes continued through Monday, leaving two other people dead. The situation reportedly escalated when protesters announced they would hold a sit-in in Matariya square. Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim paid a security-check visit to Matariya on Tuesday. Source: Ahram Online
