CAIRO
Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour has regretted the killing of people “after an attempt to storm” the Republican Guards headquarters, ordering the formation of a judicial committee to investigate the deadly incidents.
“(Mansour) urged all parties to exercise self-restraint and put national interest and national security consideration before everything,” the presidency said in a statement.
The Egyptian Ambulance Authority (EAO) said 42 people were killed and 322 were wounded outside the Republican Guards HQ in the early hours of Monday.
The army said one officer was killed and several soldiers were wounded in an attempt by “a terrorist group” to storm the compound.
But the Muslim Brotherhood said at least 53 people, including five children, were killed and hundreds were wounded when army and police forces opened fire on peaceful protesters outside the HQ.
Mansour reaffirmed the right to peaceful demonstrations, urging protestors not to come near vital centers and military facilities in the country.
“He urged all parties to shoulder their responsibility and achieve national reconciliation to conclude the transitional phase as soon as possible.”
Mansour, the head of the Constitutional Court, was sworn in as interim president under an army roadmap announced last week.
