According to Egypt's Interior Ministry, three people have been confirmed dead, 200 protesters, including women, have been arrested and police cars sat aflame after the crackdown in the capital on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
Three people died during a confrontation between government officers and protesters on Friday, the most popular day for large protests and rallies, after the Muslim Brotherhood was deemed a terrorist organization by the Egyptian government on Wednesday, according to the AP.
The group was announced as a terrorist group shortly after a suicide bombing occurred in a Nile Delta City near police headquarters killing 16 people and wounding 100 more on Tuesday, the AP reported. The government says the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the attack and many others.
The Brotherhood condemned the attacks and denied any involvement, adding that the government is just placing the blame to create more fear and violence, according to the AP.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, or the Champions of Jerusalem, is an al-Qaida-inspired group which claimed responsibility for Tuesday's suicide attack, other past attacks and warned there will be more in the future, the AP reported.
Egypt security officers fired water cannon and tear gas toward pro-Morsi supporters who were throwing rocks toward the officers on, creating greater violence and leading to the death of three people, according to the AP.
The government got word Morsi supporters were planning a mass rally to protest the labeling of the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization on Friday, so armored vehicles closed main squares earlier in the day, according to the AP.
The government made the announcement that harsher jail times would be given to any Brotherhood supporter and to any protesters, adding that leaders of said groups could be sentenced to death under anti-terrorism laws, according to Egyptian officials, the AP reported.
The government's goal with deeming the Brotherhood a terrorist organization is to scare the group before the Jan.14-15 vote on the constitution, which the government considers a huge step towards their "transition plan," the AP reported.
Clashes broke out at the Islamic Al-Azhar University in Cairo, as well, the AP reported. Footage shown on private TV networks show demonstrators hurling stones and students being chased by riot police.
Besides Tuesday's suicide attack, the government has also accused the Brotherhood of other attacks and bombings, though the group denies any of those claims and have given up violence for decades, according to the AP.
Besides their accusations, the government has not provided any type of evidence the group is behind the attacks, the AP reported.
