Prison break in Egypt leaves almost 40 dead as General says army protects 'free will'

By Philip Williams, wires

Updated 2 hours 21 minutes ago



 Photo: Protests continued in Egypt as dozens of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood reportedly died in a prison break. (Reuters: Amr Abdallah Dalsh)


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Map: Egypt



A prison break in Egypt has left nearly 40 people dead, as the head of the country's armed forces urged supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi to integrate themselves into the political process.

The country's interior ministry said the prisoners, who were being loaded into a vehicle to be taken to a prison on the outskirts of Cairo, had taken an officer hostage during an escape attempt and died after suffocating on tear gas.

"Thirty-six of the prisoners died of suffocation and crowding after tear gas was used to stop their escape," the ministry said.

The official MENA news agency reported an "unknown gunman" had tried to aid prisoners in their escape.

More than 830 people have died in Egypt since last Wednesday in clashes pitting backers of the deposed Islamist president Morsi against security forces.

Police have said they have arrested more than 1,000 Brotherhood sympathisers in recent days as part of a broad crackdown aimed at ending weeks of political turmoil.

The call from General Abdel Fatah al Sisi was the military's first public comments since last week's violent crackdown.

The General says there is room for everyone in Egypt.

"The Egyptian people are free to choose whom they want to rule them, and we are the protectors of this free will," he said.

He urged Brotherhood supporters to "revise their national position and realise that legitimacy belongs to the people to give it to whoever they want and take it from them whenever they want."
West pushes forward with economic sanctions to stop violence

Meanwhile, in the United States, senior Republicans are calling on President Barack Obama to withdraw more than $1 billion in aid to the Egyptian military in the wake of last week's killings.

Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham went to Egypt at President Obama's request two weeks ago.

Senator McCain said standing by and watching the massacre happen is a violation of what the US stands for.

"We have no credibility," he said.

"We do have influence but when you don't use that influence then you don't have that influence."

Senator Graham also favours cutting aid and other forms of economic pressure.

"Even though the Brotherhood overplaying their hand started this we can't support what the military is doing in response."

President Obama has so far delayed delivering fighter jets and postponed a joint military exercise and is being backed by senior Democrat senators.

European Union governments will this week question how to best use their economic ties with Egypt to pressure Cairo's army-backed rulers into finding a peaceful compromise with Morsi supporters.

At stake could be a $7.2 billion package of grants and loans promised by the EU, its member governments and international financial institutions last year, as well as various trade incentives, EU officials and experts say.

ABC/wires


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