Calm restored to Egyptian palace

Calm prevailed in vicinity of the Presidential Palace on Saturday following violent demonstrations and actions at this location and areas in the country's governorates, dubbed "Friday of salvation, " that resulted in one fatality and injury of 79 people. Ministry of Health said in a statement one man, aged 23, died as a result of a gun-shots in the chest and forehead during clashes between government security personnel and opposition activists in Cairo, Port Said, Alexandria, Suez, Al-Gharbiah, Al-Ismailiah and Kafr El-Sheikh. For its part, the Ministry of Interior expressed regret in a statement at an incident, where policemen attacked a protester during the violence around the Presidential Palace (locally referred to as Qasr Al-Ittihadiah). It said the violent action against the demonstrator was individual and did not reflect the ministry policy of dealing with activists. It also pledged to hold investigation to examine circumstances of the incident further. National Salvation Front, an umbrella organization for several opposition parties, said in a statement its members were not involved in the violent incidents that occurred yesterday and last night outside the Presidential Palace. A presidential spokesman said President Mohammad Morsi, along with aides, was inside the palace during the clashes. "President Morsi was deeply distressed due to the violent incidents," he said, calling on the political parties to abstain from protecting violent members. Security personnel, last night, set activists' tents afire outside the palace after molotov cocktails and fireworks were hurled on the palace. Opposition parties have been campaigning against rule of Morsi, accusing him of failing to deliver with regard of social and living needs. Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was elected following downfall of the regime of Hosni Mubarak, at peak of what was -- controversially -- labeled "Arab spring" events.