The fourth day of the military government's crackdown against protesters in Egypt started Saturday with a standoff between security forces and hundreds of people inside a Cairo mosque.
The Al-Fateh mosque became a makeshift morgue and field hospital for the Muslim Brotherhood during clashes Friday centered on Ramses Square, where protesters promised a "day of anger" over the military's ouster of President Mohamed Morsy.
Estimates of deaths in that area ranged from 17 to 54 in reports by state-run media.
About 1,000 people reportedly took refuge in the mosque after nightfall.
After daybreak Saturday, Egyptian military forces entered the mosque,and spoke to protesters, according to video aired Saturday on Egyptian private channel Al Hiwar, a pro-Morsy broadcaster.
Meanwhile, in video aired on private Egyptian networkOnTV, military vehicles could be seen outside the mosque.
Earlier, state-run EGYNews, citing military officials, reported that security forces offered to provide safe passage for those inside the mosque.
But the protesters were afraid that they would be attacked anyway by plainclothes "thugs" aligned with the military, a doctor inside the mosque told CNN by phone.
The doctor and two others inside the mosque said attackers had fired on the mosque and tried to break down the front door. The doctor said the military told protesters that women could leave but men would be arrested.
Protesters prevented people from leaving the mosque, EGYNews said, citing security officials.
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