Morsi mulls giving army control of violence-hit city

on 05/03/2013 08:49:27

Egypt's president is reported to be considering whether to give the military full control of the volatile city of Port Said after days of deadly street clashes stoked by excessive force used by riot police.

Officials said Mohammed Morsi met his security chief and top military officers today to discuss pulling the police out and putting the military in charge of the Suez Canal city to defuse tensions.

At least three civilians and three policemen have been killed and hundreds of other people injured in the violence since Sunday.

The military sent reinforcements to Port Said late yesterday, after protesters torched a government building and police headquarters there.