Cairo: Egypt’s defiant Muslim Brotherhood stormed and torched local government offices as they began a march from the Al-Iman mosque in Cairo. The action was taken a day after over 638 people were killed in the deadliest crackdown by security forces on supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Maximum number of deaths have been reported from the main protest site at Rabaa Al Adawiya mosque in Cairo where 288 people lost their lives.

UN Security Council is holding an informal meeting to discuss the situation in Egypt. The UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay has called for an impartial and credible probe into the role of security forces in the assault on protesters.

United States has cancelled Joint military Exercise with Egypt. President Obama has deplored the violence in Egypt and said state of emergency must be lifted. In an address from his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, he urged the Egyptian authorities to respect human rights, and called on protestors to demonstrate peacefully.

Meanwhile, A Cairo court has extended the judicial custody of the ousted President Mohamed Mursi by another 30 days who is facing prison break charges in collaboration with Hamas in addition to spying and murder.