The death toll in police-protester clashes following this week's deadly soccer stadium stampede rose to 12, UPI quoted an Egyptian health official as saying Saturday. Deputy Health Minister Hesham Shiha said in a statement the ministry received reports Saturday of five more deaths in Cairo and three deaths in Suez, al-Masry al-Youm reported. In Cairo, witnesses said confrontations between police and demonstrators continued Saturday near the Interior Ministry, broken up by brief periods of calm, al-Ahram Online said. On Wednesday, 74 people died at the Port Said soccer stadium, leading to demonstrations across Egypt in which some protesters called for an end to military rule, in place since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak last year, and justice for the victims of the stampede at the stadium. The stampede, which began when some fans of Port Said Masry soccer team fought with Cairo's Ahly fans at the end a game, have been blamed on poor police security efforts. Al-Ahram Online said the reason for the fighting was not known.
