Egypt policeman killed in clashes with Morsi backers

One policeman was killed and five others wounded in clashes with supporters of Egypt's ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in a Nile Delta city, police said on Wednesday.

Clashes erupted late Tuesday when police arrested a group of Morsi supporters, including 13 women, who were demonstrating in a nightime rally in a key square in Damietta, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Port Said.

Police said an officer who was hit by birdshot during the clashes died later on Tuesday. Five other policemen, including an officer, were also wounded in the fighting.

The health ministry said a total of 22 people were wounded in the clashes.

Supporters of Morsi have regularly attempted to stage rallies demanding his reinstatement, but their demonstrations have lost momentum amid a deadly government crackdown.

Hundreds have died and thousands have been jailed in the crackdown targeting Morsi's supporters since his ouster in July 2013.

Morsi was ousted by then army chief President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after mass street protests against his sole year of divisive rule.
Source: AFP