CAIRO

In his first reaction to the killing of tens of Egyptians outside the Republican Guards headquarters in Cairo on Monday, Egypt's National Salvation Front leader Mohammad El-Baradei said, violence begets violence.

“Violence begets violence and should be strongly condemned,” Egypt's Interim Vice President Baradei tweeted.

The Egyptian Ambulance Authority (EAO) said 42 people were killed and 322 wounded outside the Republican Guards HQ.

The army said one officer was killed and several soldiers were wounded in an attempt by “a terrorist group” to storm the HQ.

But the Muslim Brotherhood said at least 53 people, including five children, were killed and hundreds wounded when army and police forces opened fire at peaceful protesters outside the HQ.

“Independent investigation is a must,” Baradei said.

Loyalists of Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, have been camping outside the building since he was ousted under an army roadmap coordinated with and supported by Baradei.

“Peaceful transition is the only way,” tweeted Baradei.