CAIRO: A 15-year-old boy was killed and another 60 people have been reported injured on Sunday as the main headquarters for the Muslim Brotherhood in the northern Nile Delta city of Damanhour was attacked. The website for the Brotherhood's political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), claimed the young boy was a member of their group. “Brotherhood member, Islam Fathy Masoud, 15, was killed and 60 were injured after thugs attacked the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Damanhour in the total absence of police forces,” the website said. Across the Nile Delta, at least 7 governorates have reportedly broken out in clashes between the Brotherhood and protesters. It heightens the already tense atmosphere across Egypt as police in Cairo continue to bombard activists with tear gas and rubber bullets near Tahrir Square. Many fear the rise of civil strife that could lead to pro-Brotherhood and anti-President Mohamed Morsi supporters clashing in larger numbers. A statement issued by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in an effort to calm protesters calling for his ouster, has done little to abate the frustration growing on the streets. It came as police in downtown Cairo continued their barrage of tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators near Tahrir Square. In the statement from the president's office, it reiterated that it was committed to working with “all political forces" in an effort to come to a compromise and reach common ground on the constitution. It stressed the “temporary nature" of the presidential decree issued on Thursday that has enraged most political forces in the country against the president. “This declaration is deemed necessary in order to hold accountable those responsible for the corruption as well as other crimes during the previous regime and the transitional period," the presidency said in a statement. In light of the calls by the protesters that Morsi was taking absolute power over the country, the statement said the decree was “not meant to concentrate powers," but to devolve them. However, activists in Tahrir told Bikyamasr.com that this was “another attempt by the government to maintain its power as the people know better than to listen to these lies." Tents have been erected by liberal groups and movements in Tahrir Square, within view of the violence, which moved from Qasr el-Aini street on Saturday evening to near the Omar Makram mosque on the edges of the iconic square. On Sunday afternoon they lashed out at the president, saying he would be held responsible for “crimes of murder, torture and arrests carried out by the interior ministry against protesters." In a statement on Sunday, the National Forces Coalition, which brings together several liberal groups, said that its ongoing Tahrir sit-in will continue until the “unconstitutional" and “dictatorial" decrees of Morsi are reversed. Signed by more than 35 political movements and parties, the statement demanded the dissolution of the constituent assembly that is drafting the country's constitution, the sacking of the interior minister and a cabinet reshuffle. The statement denounced the “stubbornness" of the president, the Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), accusing them of ignoring the demands of political forces across the country and the interior ministry for continuing to use excessive violence against protesters. Egyptians are angry at the recent presidential decree issued by Morsi and they have called for revolution for change. Over the past two days, protesters have told Bikyamasr.com this “is similar to the beginning of the revolution," in reference to the early days of the 18 day battle that ultimately ousted former President Hosni Mubarak. It all began on Friday as thousands of Egyptians took to the central Tahrir Square to demand an end to Morsi's regime in much the same manner thousands came out on the first day of January 2011 uprising. One activist, alluding to the ultra-conservative takeover of the constitutional process, told Bikyamasr.com, “you cannot have an Islamic state if we don't have any food." They have vowed to remain in Tahrir until Morsi withdraws his decree and puts his priorities to the people.
