Story highlights Morsy says government "will deal severely" with those behind recent violence

The aim of a meeting with opposition is to solve problems, not vent anger, official says

A leading opposition group calls for protests unless a new government is formed

Morsy declared a state of emergency, imposes a curfew in Port Said, Suez and Ismailia

Raising his voice and sternly wagging his finger, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy said late Sunday that he won't stand by in the wake of recent violence, declaring a limited state of emergency and suggesting more such moves could be in the offing.

"I will act, and now I am acting," the defiant Morsy said in a nationally televised speech.

Morsy -- who became the North African nation's first democratically elected president last year but since has become a target of critics accusing him of amassing power for himself and his conservative allies -- imposed a 30-day curfew in Port Said, Ismailia and Suez. Under his order, people in those governorates cannot go out between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The three northeastern Egyptian cities, all of them along the Suez Canal, have been sites of deadly violence in recent days.

It began Friday when protesters angry with Morsy's regime clashed with government supporters and police in Suez, Ismailia and elsewhere.

Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Egyptian protester throws a tear gas canister toward riot police during clashes outside the Egyptian presidential palace on Friday, February 1, in Cairo. Egypt has been embroiled in violence since last week, the two-year anniversary of an uprising that led to the ouster of then-President Hosni Mubarak. Hide Caption 1 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester holds a smoke flare outside the presidential palace on February 1. Hide Caption 2 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – The entrance of Egypt's presidential palace in Cairo is in flames February 1, as protesters battle security forces. Hide Caption 3 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester faces off against riot police during clashes near Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, January 30. Hide Caption 4 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A police officer fires a tear gas canister during clashes with protesters near Tahrir Square on January 30. Hide Caption 5 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Police in plainclothes detain a youth suspected of being a member of the Black Bloc opposition group during a demonstration on January 30 in Cairo. Hide Caption 6 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester sprays water into the eyes of a man after his exposure to tear gas during clashes with police near Cairo's Tahrir Square on Tuesday, January 29. Hide Caption 7 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – The lobby of Cairo's Semiramis InterContinental Hotel is full of debris on January 29 after protesters stormed the entrance. Hide Caption 8 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Egyptian man takes part in a rally in Port Said on January 29. Protests in Port Said and nearby cities along the Suez Canal are symbolic because that region was among the first where the Mubarak regime lost control during the 2011 unrest, analysts say. Hide Caption 9 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Mourners carry the coffins of six people killed in clashes after the soccer riot ruling in Port Said on Monday, January 28. Rage exploded when a judge sentenced to death 21 residents of Port Said for roles in a deadly 2012 soccer riot. Hide Caption 10 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptians walk past destroyed cars in Port Said on January 28 following the funeral of those killed in clashes. Hide Caption 11 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A riot police officer clashes with a protester near Cairo's Tahrir Square on January 28. Hide Caption 12 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester throws a tear gas canister toward riot police in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Sunday, January 27. Hide Caption 13 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptian policemen and relatives on January 27 gather upon the arrival of the coffins of their colleagues killed in the violence one day earlier in Cairo. Hide Caption 14 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester throws a rock toward opposing demonstrators on January 27 in Cairo. Hide Caption 15 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptian protesters throw stones toward riot police on January 27 in Tahrir Square. Hide Caption 16 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Egyptian protester runs with a live tear gas canister toward Egyptian riot police on Saturday, January 26, in Cairo. Hide Caption 17 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptian fans of Al-Ahly football club celebrate outside the club's headquarters in Cairo on January 26. Hide Caption 18 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptian fans of Al-Ahly football club celebrate outside the club's headquarters in Cairo on January 26. Hide Caption 19 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptian protesters stand by the burning door of a school building on January 26, in Cairo. Hide Caption 20 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Egyptian protester carries an injured boy away from clashes with Egyptian riot police on January 26, in Cairo. Hide Caption 21 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptians climb over a fence at the Al-Ahly home stadium on January 26 in Cairo. Hide Caption 22 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Egyptian fan of Al-Ahly football club fires celebratory shots in the air and lights a flare as club supporters celebrate outside its headquarters in Cairo on January 26. Hide Caption 23 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester throws a rock at riot police on January 26, in Cairo. Hide Caption 24 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A fan of Al-Ahly football club lights a flare as club supporters celebrate on January 26 in Cairo. Hide Caption 25 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Al-Ahly football club supporters celebrate outside the club's headquarters in Cairo on January 26. Hide Caption 26 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Al-Ahly football club supporters celebrate on January 26. Hide Caption 27 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Smoke billows from a burning vehicle set on fire by Egyptian protesters outside the Port Said prison on January 26. Hide Caption 28 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptians react after the sentencing in Port Said on January 26. Hide Caption 29 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Al-Ahly soccer fan swings a live flare above his head on January 26 in Cairo. Hide Caption 30 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Egyptian protester tries to carry an injured man away from clashes with riot police on January 26, in Cairo. Hide Caption 31 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptian fans of Al-Ahly football club rally outside the club's headquarters in Cairo on January 26. Hide Caption 32 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Egyptian protester runs away from a cloud of tear gas fired by Egyptian riot police on January 26, in Cairo. Hide Caption 33 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Relatives of victims killed during the 2012 Port Said soccer game react after the verdict of the court, at a courthouse in Cairo, on January 26. Hide Caption 34 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Relatives and friends of Egyptian protesters who were killed in Suez during clashes with riot police Friday, load a body onto an ambulance outside the morgue in Suez on January 26. Hide Caption 35 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A fan of Al-Ahly football club lights a flare as club supporters celebrate outside its headquarters in Cairo on January 26. Hide Caption 36 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Two protesters stand on top of a piece of furniture while riot police watch from a nearby rooftop in Cairo. Hide Caption 37 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester throws a rock at riot police in Cairo. Hide Caption 38 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An Egyptian protester walks through a cloud of tear gas fired by Egyptian riot police. Hide Caption 39 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – An "Ahly-Ultra" soccer fan holds a smoke flare above his head in Cairo. Hide Caption 40 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester walks through a damaged school building. Hide Caption 41 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – A protester removes the net from a basketball goal in a Cairo schoolyard. Hide Caption 42 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Protesters and football fans clash with riot police near Egypt's interior ministry. Hide Caption 43 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Protesters and fans of Al-Masry football club take part in a demonstration in front of the prison in Port Said. Hide Caption 44 of 45 Photos: Photos: Egypt unstable after days of protest Egypt unstable after days of protest – Egyptian protesters and fans of Al-Masry football club wave their club colors as they take part in a demonstration in front of the prison in the Egyptian Suez Canal city of Port Said on Friday, January 25, calling for the prisoners who are suspected of killing 74 fans of Al-Ahly club during a football match in February 2012 not to be transferred to Cairo to attend their trial. A judge sentenced 21 people to death for their roles in the riot last year. Hide Caption 45 of 45

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Then on Saturday and Sunday, 38 people died and more than 630 were injured in Port Said, where a riot broke out after news broke that 21 people from Port Said had been sentenced to death for their roles in a bloody 2012 riot at the coastal city's soccer stadium.

In his Sunday night speech, Morsy claimed people in these and other places had attacked public and private institutions, "terrorized civilians," blocked roads and taken up arms.

Those "criminals" responsible will face "justice as soon as possible," the president said. He added he has instructed the Interior Ministry, which oversees security forces, "to deal properly, and also with force, against those who attack the nation's institutions."

"We will deal with them severely," he said, insisting Egyptian authorities are capable of restoring peace and security.

The president invoked the so-called January 25 Revolution, the popular uprising two years ago that led to the ouster of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.

Many of those who hit the streets on Friday did so to rail against Morsy, a former Muslim Brotherhood leader. At one point, Morsy declared himself immune from judicial oversight and pushed through a new constitution, actions his critics say were reminiscent of Mubarak.

On Sunday, the president said some demonstrators' violent "behavior does not have anything to do with the Egyptian revolution. ... In fact, it is against the revolution."

At the same time, he acknowledged the legitimate dissent in Egypt, as well as its impact on the country, and said "dialogue is the only way to bring about stability and security."

To this end, he invited representatives from 11 political parties to a meeting Monday. His spokesman, Yasir Ali, told state-run Nile TV that this meeting "is meant to address problems in Egypt, as opposed to express anger."

It's a sentiment that Morsy himself expressed a short time earlier, saying dialogue amongst various Egyptians was the only way for the country to reach peace and prosperity.

"We are going that way, all together," he said. "God bless Egypt, and make her safe for her people and the whole world."

Troops try to restore calm in Port Said

Roads in and out of Port Said, which sits along the Mediterranean Sea at the northern entrance of the Suez Canal, were shut down Sunday as authorities tried to maintain calm after the previous day's bloodshed.

It all stemmed from a February 1, 2012, riot at the close of a match between Cairo's prestigious Al-Ahly football club and the host Al-Masry team.

That day, 73 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in violence between supporters of the two teams. Many died falling from bleachers inside the stadium, while others suffocated.

Two months later, Egypt's general prosecutor charged 75 people with premeditated murder and attempted murder, while three Al-Masry officials and nine police officers were charged with "assisting the murderers."

According to the prosecutor's office, those charged with assisting knew about the assault ahead of time, didn't confiscate weapons in advance, didn't stop them and -- in the case of an electricity engineer who was charged -- turned off the lights directly over the bleachers where the Al-Ahly fans were sitting right after the visiting team wrapped up its 3-1 victory.

Fans from both sides bashed each other with rocks and chairs, yet prosecutors claimed the Port Said supporters were also armed with knives and other weapons.

On Saturday, 21 of those charged were sentenced to death. That ruling subsequently spurred some of the defendant's relatives to try to storm the Port Said prison where their loved ones were being held.

In addition, the main Suez Canal administration building, provincial government buildings, banks and courts were either looted or burned by rioters, according to state media reports.

Those facilities, by Sunday, were controlled by Army units, said Gen. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, a spokesman for the Armed Forces. The troops also secured the power and water facilities in the city, he said.

Clashes for third straight day in Egyptian capital

In Egypt's capital of Cairo, meanwhile, clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces continued for a third day on Sunday.

Police and soldiers used tear gas to quell a sometimes violent demonstration near Cairo's Tahrir Square -- the symbolic center of Egypt's revolution. Demonstrators threw rocks and burned tires and boxes, according to the state-run al-Ahram newspaper.

Police closed all the main roads and highways near Tahrir Square, and vehicles were not allowed to stop or wait near the square, the state-run al-Ahram newspaper reported.

Citing the unrest in the vicinity of Tahrir Square, the U.S. Embassy closed its offices on Sunday, according to its website. The British Embassy in Cairo also closed for the day.

The National Salvation Front, one of Egypt's main opposition groups, on Sunday called for "peaceful protests" and held "the president responsible for the excessive violence used by security forces against protesters," according to a statement posted on the state-run Al-Ahram news website.

The group made several demands before it would urge people to stop protesting, including the formation of a new government and making changes to what they called the "distorted constitution" that voters passed, in a referendum, last month.

"The NSF has decided not to run in the parliamentary elections unless a comprehensive solution similar to that suggested is reached," the group said.