A divided Egypt marks anniversary of Mideast war

Dawoud relentlessly campaigned against Morsi's rule but has also criticized the violent crackdown against the Brotherhood and the media's vilification of the group.

It is rare for a figure as prominent as Dawoud to be caught up directly in the widespread political violence.

Apart from the bloodshed, the deep political divisions among Egyptians are manifested in a multitude of ways every day as supporters of the military seek to ostracize Brotherhood members in government departments, the education system and trade unions, with heated arguments and fist fights now commonplace.

Violence has meanwhile continued in the northern part of Egypt's strategic Sinai peninsula, where militants, some with al-Qaida links, have been targeting security forces with growing frequency in what is fast becoming a full-fledged insurgency.