Minister Says Pro-Morsi Protests to be Dispersed 'Soon' as Police Blame Clashes on Islamists

Egypt's interior minister pledged on Saturday that protests calling for the reinstatement of ousted president Mohammed Morsi would be dispersed "soon," as police blamed the latest deadly clashes on Islamists.

Speaking at a news conference, Minister Mohammed Ibrahim said security forces would act "in a legal fashion" to disperse the demonstrations "as soon as possible."

He said security forces would act to ensure "the minimum losses possible."

Ibrahim insisted that security forces wanted to "prevent bloodshed," and made reference to complaints he said had been made by residents of the areas where Morsi supporters are demonstrating.

"We hope that (the protesters) come to their sense and that they put an end to these protests in order to prevent bloodshed," he added.

Earlier, an Egyptian police general and spokesman blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for deadly Cairo clashes and denied officers fired live rounds.

Police "did not use more than tear gas" in the clashes, said General Hany Abdel Latif in a televised statement, accusing Islamist protesters of starting the violence.

Supporters of the ousted Islamist president have been protesting for his reinstatement since July 3, when the Egyptian military drove him from power after massive demonstrations against his rule.

Overnight, dozens of Morsi loyalists were killed as violence erupted after rival rallies for and against the ousted president.

Morsi supporters said more than 100 people were killed, blaming security forces who they said opened fire on unarmed protesters.

An Agence France Presse correspondent counted 37 bodies in an Islamist-run field hospital at Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, and the emergency services said other hospitals received 29 corpses.