Clashes erupt in upper Egypt during president's visit

Clashes erupted Saturday between supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi during his visit to Upper Egypt's governorate of Sohag, about 400 km south of the capital Cairo, according to a Xinhua correspondent on site. Anti-president protesters and young men of the Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi's main supporters, exchanged stone-throwing after the protesters continued shouting slogans against the president and his Islamist supporters. The security forces interfered and successfully dispersed the clashing crowds using teargas bombs. The protesters, mostly members of the revolutionary April 6 Youth Movement, carried a symbolic coffin of President Morsi and toured Sohag city until they reached the stadium, where the president is expected to hold a public conference, shouting statements against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood," the Xinhua correspondent said. Meanwhile, Sohag University students organized a protest inside the campus against the country's ongoing instability, deteriorating security, fuel shortage and prevailing unemployment among the young. It is reported that journalists who were prevented from covering the president's visit also organized a protest. Morsi is currently visiting Sohag to inaugurate a number of public service projects and to announce the launch of a development program in Upper Egypt as one of the promises he has made during his presidential campaign.