Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 2013-08-16

It's been called the bloodiest crackdown and massacre in Egypt's history. As heartbreaking images of Egypt’s bloodshed flood news channels, strong international reactions have condemned the security forces move to clear peaceful protesters supporting deposed President Mohamed Morsi in which scores were killed.

Egyptian law enforcement has been ordered to use deadly force to prevent further riots as the Muslim Brotherhood is bracing for a "March of Anger".

The Brotherhood has asked supporters of Mohamed Morsi, the deposed president, to take part in a nationwide "millions' march of anger" in protest against the recent violent clearing of protest sites by security forces.

"Anti-coup rallies tomorrow will depart from all mosques of Cairo and head towards Ramsis square after Jumaa prayer in 'Friday of Anger'," Gehad el-Haddad, Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the view of the UN Security council members is that it is important to end violence in Egypt and that the parties exercise maximum restraint.

Argentine UN Ambassador Maria Cristina Perceval told reporters after an emergency closed session of the body that there was a common desire on the need to stop violence and to advance national reconciliation.

Earlier US president Barack Obama cancelled joint military exercises with Egypt showing the displeasure with current situation, although not cutting off US military aid to the country.

The United States strongly condemns the steps that have been taken by Egypt's interim government and security forces, Obama said, prompting Egyptian government to fire back saying that his accusations were groundless.

Europe's leading powers along with Iran, Qatar and Turkey strongly denounced the use of force by the military-backed interim government to clear two protest camps in Cairo.

Iran termed the crackdown a massacre

"Iran is following the bitter events in Egypt closely, disapproves of the violent actions, condemns the massacre of the population and warns of the serious consequences," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Qatar issued a similar message.

"Qatar strongly denounces the means by which peaceful protesters in Rabaa al-Adawiya camp and Al-Nahda square have been dealt with and which led to the killing of several unarmed innocent people among them," a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement published on the official QNA agency.

Turkey urged the international community to act immediately over what it said was an "unacceptable" response to the protests.

"The international community, particularly the UN Security Council and Arab League, must act immediately to stop this massacre," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

"I am deeply concerned at the escalating violence and unrest in Egypt," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement cited by Agence France Presse (AFP).

"I condemn the use of force in clearing protests and call on the security forces to act with restraint."

In a statement, The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) said it condemns these horrendous massacres against peaceful protestors defending the legitimacy and holds the leaders of the coup, and those who supported them, responsible for these massacres before God, before history and the coming generations.

While the world condemns the massacre, lines of Muslim bodies have lined up in a Cairo masjid , but not in preparation for prayers as they used to do all through the past 45 days…

Rather, these are lines are for dead bodies massacred by security forces in a crackdown that had left the world reeling in shock.

The Health Ministry said that at least 578 people were killed in the clearing and subsequent clashes nationwide on Wednesday and more than 3,500 injured.

Muslim Brotherhood members have said the true death toll was far higher, with a spokesperson saying 2,600 people had been killed in the "massacre".