Death sentences for Egypt football fans

An Egyptian court has handed down 21 death sentences in connection with the deadly riot last year at a football stadium in Port Said located along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

The defendants sentenced on Saturday are mostly members of the "Ultras," die-hard football fans who support Port Said's al-Masry squad.

At least 74 people were killed in the riot on February 1, 2012, which began minutes after the final whistle in a game between al-Masry and the Cairo-based al-Ahly.

Al-Masry fans stormed the pitch after their team won, throwing stones, bottles and fireworks at al-Ahly supporters. Witnesses said that police at the stadium did nothing to stop the violence, which set off days of violent protests in the capital Cairo.

The verdicts are not final; death sentences must be approved by Egypt's grand mufti, though that is largely a procedural formality. The defendants can also appeal their sentences, which could take years to carry out.

Families of the victims inside the courtroom reacted with joy and disbelief, cheering and holding pictures of their relatives.

In Port Said, meanwhile, there were reports of gunfire around the prison where the defendants are being held. Police used tear gas to disperse their families, who reportedly tried to storm the prison.

Dozens of other defendants, including security officials accused of failing to stop the violence, are expected to receive their verdicts on March 9.