Egypt under martial law; 525 die in clashes (updated)

wounded – but now say the number of dead is around 500 and the number of wounded around 3,000.

In response to Egypt’s actions, Turkey – which, along with Qatar, has been the Muslim Brotherhood’s staunchest supporter — today urged the UN Security Council and Arab League on to act quickly to stop a “massacre” in Egypt, and Iran warned of the risk of civil war.

Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan said international passivity had paved the way for the military-backed Egyptian government’s crackdown.

“It is clear that the international community, by supporting the military coup (that ousted Morsi on 3 July), and remaining silent over previous massacres instead of protecting democracy and constitutional legitimacy in Egypt, has encouraged the current administration to carry out today’s intervention.

“The international community, especially the UN Security Council and Arab League, must act immediately to stop this massacre,” Erdogan said in a statement.

European leaders also criticized the action against the demonstrators’ Cairo camps, and called for restraint and a return to dialogue. “The reports of deaths and injuries are extremely worrying,” Michael Mann, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said. “We reiterate that violence won’t lead to any solution and we urge the Egyptian authorities to proceed with utmost restraint.”

The White House said it strongly opposed the declaration of a state of emergency, which gives the security services expanded powers of arrest and detention, and urged Egypt’s military rulers to respect basic human rights.

“We have repeatedly called on Egypt security forces to show restraint,” said Josh Earnest, White House deputy press secretary.

“Violence will only make it more difficult to move Egypt forward on a path to lasting stability and democracy and runs directly counter to the pledges by the interim government to pursue reconciliation,” Earnest said. “We also strongly oppose a return to a State of Emergency law and call on the government to respect basic human rights such as freedom of peaceful assembly and due process under the law.”

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon condemned “in the strongest terms” the violence. “In the aftermath of today’s violence, the secretary-general urges all Egyptians to concentrate their efforts on promoting genuinely inclusive reconciliation,” Ban’s spokesman said.

U.K. foreign secretary William Hague said he was “deeply concerned” about the escalating violence.

“I condemn the use of force in clearing protests and call on the security forces to act with restraint. Leaders on all sides must work to reduce the risk of further violence. Only then will it be possible to take vital steps towards dialogue and reconciliation,” he said.

The crackdown by the security forces was also criticized by some in the Egyptian government. Mohammed ElBaradei, Egypt’s vice president, announced his resignation, saying there were peaceful options for ending the country’s political crisis. He stopped short, however, of criticizing the Egyptian security forces or military directly.

“It has become difficult for me to hold responsibility for decisions that I do not agree with, whose consequences I fear,” ElBaradei said as the new curfew took effect and clashes continued across the country. “I cannot be responsible for one drop of blood in front of God, and then in front of my conscience, especially with my faith that we could have avoided it.”

He said those who incite “violence and terrorism” — language that the government has used to allude to the Muslim Brotherhood — would only benefit from the turmoil.

In an indication that public sentiment remains strongly behind the military, even the liberal coalition ElBaradei once led, the National Salvation Front, distanced itself from his decision and saluted the police’s actions. A television host later called for ElBaradei to be placed under house arrest.