Port Said riots enter 8th day

PORT SAID, Egypt, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Protests in Egypt Sunday entered the eighth day in a mass civil disobedience protest in response to a court's death sentence of local residents last month.

The protests began at the end of January when a court sentenced 21 local residents to death for the murders of 72 people in the massive football stadium riot last year, MENA reported.

Following the verdict, 40 people died in clashes with security forces.

Protesters are demanding justice for the killing of both groups, MENA said.

Groups of protesters in Port Said have closed down two customs checkpoints, stopped railway movement and closed the seaport, MENA said.