Islamic Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, condemned Monday the killings of more than 40 supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi outside the Republican Guard House in Cairo.
Hamas, an offshoot of the pan-Arab Muslim Brotherhood movement which Morsi hails from, described the incident as "a massacre," according to a statement sent to reporters.
The episode erupted early Monday after days of unrest that followed the Egyptian army's removal of Morsi, who was elected as a president last summer.
Offering condolences to the Egyptian people, Hamas called for " saving the blood of the precious Egyptian people."
Earlier Monday, Egypt's Health Ministry confirmed that at least 42 people were killed at dawn outside the Republican Guard House in Cairo's Nasr City, where Morsi is reportedly detained.
"Morsi's supporters were praying while the police and army fired live rounds and tear gas at them," said the Brotherhood.
For its part, the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the movement, said the incident was a "human massacre" against peaceful citizens who protested "a military coup."
However, the army said they were only responding after being attacked.
At a press conference Monday afternoon, army spokesman Colonel Ahmed Mohamed Ali said the killings were provoked by Morsi's supporters who attacked the security premise with live ammunition.
"We dealt with the protesters in the vicinity of the Republican Guard House wisely, while they used live ammunition, Molotov cocktails, stones and others," he said.
Morsi was ousted by the army on Wednesday after millions of protesters demanded his removal due to his "maladministration" since he was elected a year ago. Endi
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