Egypt Gives Bonanza to Security Forces for Crushing Morsi Supporters

Egypt's interim government is giving 245m EGP ($35m, £22.5m) to the security forces for their role in combating the recent unrest in the country.

The interior ministry has announced that the personnel would receive the bonus for dispersing the sit-ins from Rabaa al-Adawiyah and Nahda Square on 14 August, according to the Al-Masry al-Youm daily.

A large slice of the cash award will go to the Cairo and Giza security directorates, the National Security Agency and the Central Security Forces. The balance will be given to policemen in other parts of the country.

The security forces' action resulted in severe bloodshed claiming the lives of hundreds of Egyptians. Most of the dead belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is being battered following the removal of Mohamed Morsi.

The interim administration led by Adly Mansour said thousands of weapons were seized during the sit-ins and blamed pro-Morsi groups for the bloodbath.

The violent confrontation during the protests had sparked widespread condemnation from across the globe.

Following the protests, the Egyptian government has come down heavily on the Brotherhood as scores of its leaders have been jailed while the outfit itself is enmeshed in legal problems.

Mansour, in his first television interview since he took over the leadership, said: "I know the police faced a lot of criticism in dispersing the [pro-Morsi] sit-ins, which were not peaceful, but they tried to pursue all peaceful stages [to clear the camps] and there was no response. Still, they applied restraint and were committed to the international standards and legal means of clearing the sit-ins. The police apparatus realises it is now fulfilling a new role and will not lose the trust it regained from the people."