In Egypt, the death toll in the clashes in Port Said has gone up to 31. The clashes were sparked off by announcement of death sentence to 21 local people over football riots in February last year which left 74 people dead.

As the verdict was passed by the court in Port Said, the supporters of the accused tried to storm the city prison which led to gunfire. Two police officers outside the prison were among 31 persons who have been killed in the violence yesterday.

Army has been deployed in Port Said and taken control of the Suez canal so that operations are not hampered. All 21 accused sentenced to death were fans of the Port Said club Al-Masry. More than 70 accused are standing trial over the tragedy at the Post Said stadium.

It is the deadliest football-related incident in 15 years in Egypt. The court orders are now to be confirmed by Egypt’s top religious authority, the Grand Mufti. The court will hear the cases of the other accused in early March.

The deadly soccer riots at Port Said stadium had taken place on February 1 last year after a football game between the home team Al Masry and the Cairo’s visiting Al Ahly as the soccer crazy fans went on a rampage after the defeat of the local team.