Clashes between police and Muslim Brotherhood extremists have left at least 44 people dead and hundreds injured.

Officials said at least 200 members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested for their parts in the violent protests.

The government had been trying to hold events for the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.  Hundreds gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square for a ceremony that included flyovers from jets and Apache helicopters.

That’s when the Brotherhood supporters took to the street to protest the government’s banning of their organization and continuing to complain about the removal of their leaders from positions of governmental power.

Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi spoke on state TV to urge citizens to “stand together, be optimistic about the future” as the country approached a “critical time.”