Egypt: More Than 500 Arrested in Clashes

Egypt’s interior ministry has said that 543 people have been arrested in the violence that swept the country in the authorities’ crackdown on supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi on Wednesday.

The ministry explained that some of those who were arrested possessed heavy arms, including machineguns.

It added that its forces are “currently facing large numbers of armed terrorist groups in a number of governorates and confronting groups which are targeting police, government and religious installments in an attempt to stir chaos in the country.”

It insisted that its forces will continue with their duty to contain the violence with the least losses possible.