2 pro-democracy protesters succumb to injuries in Egypt
The National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy called for the protests to denounce what it calls a "military coup" against now ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
Two pro-democracy activists breathed their last late Saturday after succumbing to their injuries they sustained during clashes between protesters and police that marred demonstrations marking the 40th anniversary of Egypt's war victory over Israel earlier this month.
Mahmoud Marzouk from the the Suez Canal province of Suez was shot and injured in the head during clashes between demonstrators and policemen in the province on October 6 when the country was celebrating the anniversary of the 1973 war.
The National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy called for the protests to denounce what it calls a "military coup" against now ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
The alliance also announced the death of 46-year-old pro-democracy activist Khalid al-Imarani from the Upper Egyptian province of Minya.
Al-Imrani received a gunshot injury during clashes with policemen in central Cairo's Ramses Square, the alliance, which is made up of several Islamist parties and pro-democracy groups, said.
Over 50 people were killed and 270 others injured in the deadly clashes, according to the Egyptian Health Ministry.
Shortly before succumbing to his injuries, Mahmoud Marzouk, a pro-democracy protester, had entrusted his father with his dying wish.
"My son's last words were, 'Don't let anyone who mandated al-Sisi join my funeral," the grieving father told Anadolu Agency, in reference to a popular mandate military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi urged people to give him to "confront violence and terrorism" after ousting elected president Mohamed Morsi on July 3.
Marzouk, who hails from the Suez Canal province of Suez, sustained serious injuries in the head after being shot during demonstrations organized by pro-democracy activists on October 6 to protest the overthrow of Morsi.
The protests – which were held on the same day Egypt was celebration the 40th anniversary of its 1973 victory over Israel - were called by the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy to denounce what it calls a "military coup" against the country's first freely-elected president.
Over 50 people were killed and 270 others injured in clashes with security forces nationwide, according to the Egyptian Health Ministry.
Marzouk succumbed to his life-threatening injuries last Saturday.
The army-installed administration accuses pro-democracy activists of committing "violence and terrorism," an accusation refuted by the activists who insist they are only exercising their right to peaceful protests.
"The family was keen on respecting Marzouk's will and make that clear to all people who were in the mosque performing the funeral prayers before his burial ceremony," said the father.
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