Roundup: 6 killed in clashes between Brotherhood members, residents in Cairo

At least six people were killed on Friday in clashes between Muslim Brotherhood members and residents in Cairo, the health ministry said.

The clashes erupted near the Giza pyramids in Cairo following the morning prayers of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Security forces intervened to disperse the crowds and arrested 15 armed Brotherhood members when supporters of the ousted Islamists president Mohamed Morsi held marches, official news agency MENA quoted an interior ministry source.

According to the interior ministry statement, nearly 400 supporters of Brotherhood have gathered in different streets in Giza province and fired birdshots targeting the residents.

Meanwhile, a bomb exploded outside a cinema house in Giza's Haram Street, but no casualties were reported.

Giza security headquarters said the bomb disposal experts managed to defuse two other bombs.

Elsewhere in Egypt, in the coast city of Alexandria, at least 20 armed members of the Brotherhood have been arrested.

The interior ministry has declared tightened security measures during the three-day Muslim feast in anticipation of violence, following calls of the Islamists to occupy the state's major squares following the Eid prayers.

MENA said the interior minister announced state of alert in all the police sectors to secure the Egyptian celebrations.

He ordered the deployment of swift interfering forces in the main squares, streets and all the security premises across the country.

Egypt has been facing a rising wave of terrorism since 2013.

Sinai-based Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) militant group, which has changed its name to "Sinai Province" and vowed loyalty to the Islamic State (IS) regional militant group, claimed responsibility for most of the anti-government attacks.

On Thursday, the "Sinai Province" said it fired a rocket at an Egyptian naval vessel in the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Security expert said there is qualitative development in the Islamic militant techniques as they shifted their traditional attacks on police and army bases and check points into foreign and maritime facilities.

The capital city Cairo has recently seen unprecedented terrorist attacks. On June 29, the country's top prosecutor was assassinated in a car bomb.

Last Saturday, a car bomb exploded outside the Italian consulate, killing a civilian and wounding nine others.

On Thursday, the interior minister sacked Cairo police chief General Osama Bedair, without giving reasons. Endit