36 members of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood died in riot: report

A total of 36 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Egypt's ousted President Mohamed Morsi hails, died in a riot as they attempted to escape when being moved to a jail on Sunday, official news agency MENA reported, quoting a security source.

Armed clashes broke out between the security forces and militants who intercepted and attacked police vehicles carrying detainees affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood to Abou Zaabal Prison in Qalyubiya governorate, 60 km north of the capital Cairo.

The clashes took place before the police vehicles entered the prison, said MENA.

The detainees tried to escape with the help of the militants who took a police officer as hostage, and the security men fired tear gas in response, MENA said. Some detainees suffered suffocation while several militants were shot dead in ensuing confrontations.

Some 612 people were ordered 15 days in custody pending investigations over Saturday's clashes at Al-Fatah mosque which left at least 79 killed.

The Interior Ministry has yet to announce the death toll of the riot.

Egypt has been witnessing nationwide clashes between supporters of Morsi and the security forces after the latter on Wednesday dispersed two major pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza. Over 800 people have been killed then across Egypt.