A man was killed by gunfire in Monufiya Governorate early on Sunday during an apparent clash between supporters of the liberal Egyptian Bloc and the moderate Islamist Wasat Party. The incident comes as the first phase of parliamentary elections is still ongoing.
While details of the incident are sketchy, eyewitnesses claim that the driver of an Egyptian Bloc candidate was killed by a bullet fired by a supporter of the Wasat Party.
Egyptian Bloc supporters attempted to burn down the house of a Wasat Party candidate in revenge but were dispersed by police.
However, Mohamed Sobhy, the youth secretary for the Wasat Party said that the death was accidental, claiming that Egyptian Bloc supporters had been marching in the street, firing bullets in the air, one of which hit the driver.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Bloc member Hany Serry Eddin denounced the violence. “A man’s life is more precious than a parliamentary seat,” he said.
Prior to the start of voting last week, many had been concerned at the possibility of violence during the elections. However, the expected violence mostly failed to materialize, while the army deployed in force to prevent clashes between rivals.
In last parliamentary elections held in 2010, at least nine people were killed, according to reports by local rights groups.
