15 die in clashes in Egypt

At least 15 people have been killed and 83 injured in Egypt in clashes between police and supporters of the deposed Islamist President, Mohammed Morsi.

More than 200 members of the Muslim Brotherhood were reportedly arrested in connection with the violence in Cairo, BBC reports.

Supporters of Morsi marched in several cities, as the military-backed government celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Earlier, a Muslim Brotherhood supporter was killed in clashes with police.

At least two other people were injured in the fighting in the town of Delga about 300km (190 miles) south of Cairo, according to reports quoting a medical official and witnesses.

Security forces used tear gas and fired in to the air to stop thousands of supporters of Morsi from entering Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

The street battles raged for hours with small fires burning and black smoke rising in several parts of the capital, according to reports.

Hundreds of people had gathered in Tahrir Square to mark the military anniversary. Jets and Apache helicopters flew overhead in formation, as part of a grand display of military hardware by the government.

Backers of Morsi said they would use the public holiday commemorations to denounce what they say was as a military coup in July.

BBC reports that there is the risk of more violence in Cairo as night falls. Meanwhile, the celebrations are continuing in Tahrir.

He earlier described people running for cover as gunshots and tear gas were fired in to the crowd.

“Security forces appear to be trying to keep both sides apart,” our correspondent tweeted.

The interior ministry earlier warned it would confront any “attempts that may disturb the 6 October celebrations”, the Mena state news agency reported.

In a televised address, Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi described it as a “critical time” for the country and urged Egyptians to “stand together, be optimistic about the future”.