At least four people have been reportedly killed in the Suez Canal's Port Said as anger and police violence continues unabated, the site of ongoing violence that left tens of people killed on January 26, when a court sentenced defendants in a football stadium massacre the year before was announced. An Egyptian security officer was reportedly killed on Sunday as police and angry residents of Port Said continued to clash. Hundreds of others have been wounded in the volatile city along the Suez Canal, medical officials told local media. Residents began protesting in the city early on Sunday over the arrest and detention of prisoners in relation to a football massacre in the city in February 2012 that left at least 74 people dead. Activists in the town reported that police used massive amounts of tear gas on the crowds as they gathered in front of governmental buildings. At least 350 people have been wounded, sources close to the situation said. Egypt's armed forces said in a statement on its Facebook page that a military officer was wounded when he was shot in the leg and that one soldier had been killed when he was shot in the neck by “unknown elements." Tension and clashes have erupted again across the country, including in the Nile Delta region, where a man was run over and killed by an armored vehicle on Saturday, sparking more anger. Reports indicated Egyptian protesters set fire to two government buildings in the northern city of Port Said, state television reported. Protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police officers who responded by firing teargas on Monday, a day after five people, including two policemen, were killed during demonstrations in the Suez Canal city. Thousands took to the streets for the funeral of three people killed in the overnight clashes with police. “The interior ministry (officials) are cowards!” the angry mourners chanted and called on President Mohamed Morsi to “leave.” Hundreds were injured in the overnight fighting after authorities decided to move prisoners awaiting a verdict over alleged involvement in a deadly football riot last year. The two policemen died from gunshots to the head and neck, an interior ministry official said. Of the 586 people injured in the confrontations, 16 had been shot with live bullets and 27 from birdshot, according to Ahmed Sultan, head of emergency services. A security official said earlier that during the night protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at the police station in Port Said, where a general strike entered its third week. Police responded with tear gas. Fresh violence broke out on Monday afternoon near the security headquarters, where protesters threw petrol bombs at police under clouds of tear gas. BN
