CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt's Vice-President Mohamed ElBaradei on Saturday strongly condemned the "excessive use of force" after deadly clashes between supporters of ousted president Mohamed Mursi and security forces.

"I strongly condemn the excessive use of force and the deaths, and I am working hard and in every direction to end the confrontation in a peaceful way. God protect Egypt and have mercy on the victims," he said on his Twitter account.

Dozens of Mursi supporters were shot dead early on Saturday in the deadliest incident in a month as violence erupted after huge rallies for and against the ousted Islamist president.