One Killed, Scores Injured in Cairo Clashes

Egyptian riot police clash with demonsrators in Cairo on May 4, 2012. Over a dozen people have been killed since May 2 leading up to the presidential elections., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

One killed, scores injured in Cairo clashes

Fri May 4, 2012 1:39PM
presstv.ir

At least one person has been killed and several others injured after Egyptian security forces clashed with anti-junta protesters in Cairo, Press TV reports.

Egyptian forces clashed with demonstrators on Friday after they attempted to cross security barriers outside the defense ministry building.

They used also used tear gas and water canon to disperse crowds of protesters who poured into the streets of Cairo to stage a million-man march against the country’s military rulers.

Protesters returned to the capital’s landmark Liberation Square to condemn the killing of protesters by pro-military thugs and to call on the ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) to step down.

The rally was called by Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood less than three weeks ahead of the country’s first presidential election after the ouster of long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak.

On Wednesday, 20 people were killed and dozens were wounded in clashes between anti-SCAF protesters and government supporters near the defense ministry in Cairo's Abbassiya district.

Protesters were angry over disqualification of some Islamic candidates from running in the election and were demanding a quick handover of power to civilians.

The Supreme Council of Armed Forces took power in the aftermath of the February 2011 revolution that toppled the Mubarak regime.

The military rulers are facing mounting criticism for their failure to keep their promise of establishing a civilian government within six months.

The Egyptian public accuses the ruling junta of following in Mubarak’s tracks by resorting to violence against popular protests.


One killed, more than 300 injured as clashes break out in Egypt

By the CNN Wire Staff
2:49 AM EDT, Sat May 5, 2012

Anger at the pace of reform rages in Egypt

Cairo (CNN) -- One person died and more than 300 were injured Friday when clashes broke out in Cairo as protests against the country's military government turned violent, state media reported.

Video from the scene showed some protesters throwing rocks at security forces, and the security forces spraying water cannons at the demonstrators, who were protesting near the country's Defense Ministry.

The protests erupted amid a backdrop of frustration about the pace of reform since Hosni Mubarak was ousted as president last year and over concern that Egypt's military leadership is delaying the transition to civilian rule.

One person was killed and 373 were injured in the clashes in the Abbasiya area, said Ahmed Ansari, director of Cairo's emergency medical services.

Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said a curfew will be enforced in Abbasiya Square and streets leading to it from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Egypt's political scene 'muddled'
"Those involved in (the) Abbasiya clashes and inciting them will be dealt with according to the law," the Supreme Council said.

Egypt's state-run Nile TV showed at least two members of the military police suffering injuries and being carried away from the front line of the clashes.

Thousands of people descended on downtown Cairo on Friday after several parties urged supporters to voice their outrage about deadly clashes this week and demand the resignation of Egypt's interim military government.

At least 11 people were killed and scores injured Wednesday in violence in Abbasiya, where a sit-in protest has been going on for a week outside the Defense Ministry.

As the latest clashes gathered steam, Nader Abdel Aziz, a human rights lawyer, reported seeing warning shots fired in the air by security forces, as well as military helicopters hovering over the scene.

Some military officers have been injured by rocks thrown by protesters, he said.

Alaa Al Iraqi, Supreme Council spokesman, said officials warned protesters that the Defense Ministry was "a red line" that shouldn't be crossed.

"They threw rocks first at the military police soldiers, insulted them and pushed through barbed wire," the spokesman said. The rock-throwing injured several soldiers.

"No live ammunition of any kind was used except for standard protocol for dealing with riots," he said.

The Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, was among those taking part in another protest in Tahrir Square, the heart of Egypt's protest movement, under the banner of "stopping the bloodshed."

At least three stages had been set up in the square, where a mostly Islamist crowd planned to demonstrate, according to Nile TV. Many are supporters of Islamist candidate Hazem Abu Ismael, who is among a number of candidates disqualified from the May 23 presidential election.

Ahmed Maher, founder of the liberal April 6 movement, which was among those to join the protests in Abbasiya, said it was urging its supporters to pull back.

"We are withdrawing from Abbasiya to avoid and limit bloodshed. Some of our field medics will remain behind to assist only," he said.

The April 6 movement wants accountability from the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces for the deaths of protesters in the Abbasiya clashes Wednesday.

The Ministry of Health earlier dispatched 70 ambulances to the Abbasiya protests, dubbed the "Final Friday" march. And the Arab Doctors Association set up two makeshift clinics.

The Al Nour Salafi party has boycotted the Abbasiya protest.

The Supreme Council said on its Facebook page Thursday that the clashes in Abbasiya were aimed at delaying the presidential elections and stalling the formation of a constituent assembly.

The Supreme Council also said that certain "unnamed" groups have used verses from the Quran calling for jihad, or holy war, to try to draw the military into an armed conflict.

The military had tried to persuade the protesters to move from their position near the Ministry of Defense to Tahrir Square, but they refused, the Facebook statement said.

Controversy about the approaching presidential elections has been growing.

The Muslim Brotherhood's preferred candidate, Khairat El Shater, who was disqualified from running last month, was referred to the country's general prosecutor Friday for insulting the election commission.

Abu Ismael was also referred to the general prosecutor for alleged forgery. He was disqualified from standing because of evidence that his late mother had U.S. citizenship, an assertion he has denied.

On Thursday, three other presidential candidates also were referred for alleged violations of election campaign law.

The three candidates -- leading independent Abdel Monein Aboul Fettouh; Mohamed Mursi of the Islamist Freedom and Justice Party; and Amre Moussa -- were accused of breaking the law by holding meetings on college campuses.

"These infringements by the presidential candidates will be taken very seriously, and they will be questioned as soon as possible. They could be fined," Adel Saeed, the official spokesman for the general prosecutor, told CNN on Thursday.

The election commission has disqualified about 10 of the 23 presidential contenders, its chief has said. The disqualifications have prompted widespread anger.

International powers urged all sides to exercise restraint after the clashes Wednesday.

Assailants targeted the protesters in Cairo early Wednesday, medical sources said. At least 150 people were injured, Dr. Ahmed Thabet, a physician working in a field hospital near where the clashes took place, said Thursday.

It was unclear who the attackers were, but they were not wearing uniforms, witnesses said.

The Freedom and Justice Party blamed the Supreme Council for the deaths and injuries in the Abbasiya clashes, and it said that the council, not the protesters, wants to delay the transition of power.

A government official denied reports that the military was involved in Wednesday's violence.

Clashes have erupted in Egypt since an uprising led to the toppling of Mubarak in February of last year, with protesters demanding the military leaders who took over hand over power to a civilian administration.