Clashes escalated between supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Morsi around the presidential palace in Heliopolis on Wednesday after the sit-in there was attacked.
Tens of protesters staging a sit-in were confronted in the afternoon by a rally of hundreds of pro-Morsi demonstrators in the absence of security forces.
The day before, thousands had marched to the palace, denouncing a constitutional declaration issued by Morsi that grants him sweeping powers, as well as a snap 15 December referendum on the contentious draft constitution.
Security forces retreated Tuesday night, leaving the area to peaceful protesters who surrounded the palace and quickly covered the walls with graffiti heavily attacking Morsi, dubbing him a “dictator” and demanding he leave. Some then decided to hold a sit-in.
On Wednesday, as Vice President Mahmoud Mekky gave a press conference, Morsi supporters headed to the area surrounding the palace and forcibly dispersed the sit-in.
Earlier in the day, the Muslim Brotherhood released a statement calling for a rally by the “Brotherhood and popular forces” to protect the legitimacy of the president, the declaration and the draft constitution.
When supporters arrived, the sit-in tents were completely destroyed, men and women were beaten, and canned food and blankets were scattered around and trampled on.
Morsi supporters said they were outraged by the graffiti drawn over the palace’s walls. “We were deeply offended by these endless insults,” said a furious Brotherhood member who went to the palace Wednesday.
“We came to protect the legitimacy of the elected president,” he said, while arguing with an opponent of Morsi.
The tens of Morsi opponents were pushed to the side streets surrounding the palace, outraged by the sudden attack.
“They surprised us by their numbers, destroyed the tents, beat many young men and even women, and pushed us to the side streets,” one protester said.
The numbers of pro-Morsi demonstrators quickly increased before rallies to support the opponents arrived, but the latter were still outnumbered well into the evening as clashes raged on.
[This article first appeared in Egypt Independent.]