2 killed in attack on police station in Cairo

Two people were killed and another was injured Friday when unknown militants attacked a police checkpoint in Cairo, an interior ministry statement said. One police officer and a bypassing civilian were shot dead and another policeman was seriously wounded when a group of masked gunmen opened random fire at a police checkpoint in Al-Nozaha district in eastern Cairo, the statement added. The suspects, who were driving two cars, fled the scene after failing to storm a police station near the checkpoint, according to official MENA news agency. HEAVY SECURITY The accident came amid massive protests urged by the Islamists after Friday prayers dubbed "Reinstatement of Legitimate Leader." On Thursday, the security forces announced its readiness to deal firmly with any attempts to attack governmental, religious or police premises according to the law. Moreover, the Ministry of Interior said it will use live ammunition against attackers based on the legitimate right of self-defense. Earlier Friday, army and police forces closed all routes leading to major mosques in Cairo and Giza ahead of the planned protests by the Muslim Brotherhood, from which ousted president Mohamed Morsi hails. As a precautionary measure, scores of armored vehicles and military equipment were deployed in iconic Tahrir Square and outside the presidential palace, while barbed wire barriers were set up to prevent traffic toward Mostafa Mahmoud Square, a major gathering point for protesters.