EGYPT: Protesters prepare for a night out in Tahrir square, Cairo, after a second day of clashes with police that leave two dead and nearly one thousand injured

Record ID: 346418

  • Title: EGYPT: Protesters prepare for a night out in Tahrir square, Cairo, after a second day of clashes with police that leave two dead and nearly one thousand injured
  • Date: 21st November 2011
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 20, 2011) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS IN TAHRIR SQUARE PROTESTER WAVING FLAG CAMPS SET UP IN TAHRIR ROUNDABOUT PROTESTERS SITTING ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE, MOHAMMED EL-SAWY, SAYING "It was announced on Friday that we needed a very clear date for their (the ruling military council) departure, of their …handing over the
  • Embargoed: 6th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAES9K6FRO5EI3LP80NIYXD61D8
  • Story Text: Protesters set up tents in Cairo's Tahrir square after almost a full day of clashes with riot police on Sunday (November 20).
    A few thousand protesters remained in the square, chanting against military rule, while others continue to battle it out with riot police through clouds of teargas.
    Two people were killed in late night clashes reminiscent of some of the worst violence during the 18-day uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in February.
    The state news agency quoted the Health Ministry as say 942 people had been wounded in the unrest.
    Egypt holds its first parliamentary election since Mubarak's ouster in a staggered vote that starts on November 28. Many Egyptians are worried that police will not be able to secure the polls, although the army insists it can.
    Presidential powers remain with the army after the vote. A row has erupted between political groups and the army-picked cabinet over ground rules for drafting the constitution that could leave the military free of civilian control. Parliament is to pick the assembly to draw up the constitution.
    Parliamentary candidate, Mohamed el-Sawy expressed fears the ruling military council might not leave, if a date for presidential elections isn't set.
    "It was announced on Friday that we needed a very clear date for their (the ruling military council) departure, of their …handing over the power of leading the nation. We cannot really accept this open-ended situation, because if you leave it open, if you don't have a deadline, they you will stay forever," he said.
    Many Egyptians are angry that, nine-months after ousting Mubarak, the army remains in charge and police are still using the same heavy-handed tactics against demonstrators.
    Abdel Aziz el-Ashry is one such Egyptian and he told Reuters his reasons for protesting in Tahrir.
    "I am here in order to correct the path of the revolution, for the downfall of the military council. We can't have kicked out a police state and have another one rule us again."
    Egyptian army general Mohsen Fangary told a television channel that the country was on the brink of danger and that those who were asking for the military-backed government to fall were asking for the state to fall.
    He said the election would go ahead on time and the army and Interior Ministry would maintain security. He also said the army, in line with a timetable previously announced, aimed to return to barracks by the end of 2012. Presidential elections could be held by then.
    The cabinet met on Sunday to discuss the violence.
    A security official said police had not use live rounds and had used lawful methods to deal with "troublemakers". The army stayed away from fighting.
    Protester Sawsan Abu Hussein denounced suggestions that the current demonstrations were an attempt to disrupt elections.
    "We want a national rescue government, to manage this phase. We demand (Prime Minister) Essam Sharaf's government be dissolved and the formation of a national rescue' government, that holds complete powers that will oversee elections that must be held on schedule. We are not disrupting the elections nor the path towards democracy -- as many have been saying -- this is just a plot against Egypt; we are not conspirators," she said.
    Protesters have been calling for the national rescue government to run the state for the coming period.
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