Brotherhood? Egypt protesters 'torch Islamist party HQs'

Egyptian protesters set fire to Muslim Brotherhood offices on Friday, state television reported, as rival rallies gathered nationwide a day after President Mohamed Morsi assumed sweeping powers.

The offices of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, were torched in the canal cities of Ismailiya and Port Said, state television said.

Earlier it had reported that the Suez office too had been torched, but it later said that it had not been.

An FJP official told AFP the party’s office was also stormed in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, where clashes broke out between rival demonstrators.

On Thursday, Morsi assumed temporary sweeping powers that supporters say will cut back a turbulent and seemingly endless transition to democracy, but outraged critics say he has now become a dictator.