University of Minnesota graduate students on a summer internship in Egypt decided to leave the country last week, amid escalating violence and unrest.

The four Humphrey School of Public Affairs students arrived in Egypt in mid-May, and were interning for a non-governmental organization that works with Egyptian youth. The students left the country about two weeks earlier than planned.

University professor Ragui Assaad, who organized the internship, left Egypt in late June.

Last month, protests began against Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, who took office in June 2012. According to the Associated Press, Morsi was replaced July 4 by interim president Adly Mansour, Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court Chief Justice.

In recent days, clashes between pro- and anti-Morsi groups have left dozens dead. On July 8, more than 50 were killed when the Egyptian military opened fire on a demonstration by the Muslim Brotherhood — of which Morsi is a part — in front of a Cairo military base, according to the Associated Press.

One American student, 21-year-old Andrew Pochter, died June 28 photographing a protest in Alexandria. According to the Associated Press, Pochter, a religious studies major at Kenyon College in Ohio, was interning for a nonprofit education organization in Egypt.

–The Associated Press and Branden Largent contributed to this report.