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700 injured as police, protestors clash in Egyptian capital
Source: Xinhua |
November 20, 2011, Sunday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
AT least two people were dead and 700 people were injured as the security forces clashed with protestors in the Egyptian capital of Cairo yesterday, the country's health ministry said.
Military police clashed with protestors in downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square yesterday, one day after a protest here demanding an early transfer of power to civilian rule.
The police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, and 18 rioters have been arrested.
Some 65 of the injured were rushed to hospitals for treatment, and the injured included 18 policemen, the health ministry said.
Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf called on the protestors to leave the square after the violence. However, more people marched into the square on Saturday evening, blocking the roads near the square and halting the traffic.
Earlier in the day, the security forces cleared the square, where a small group of protestors had stayed overnight and attempted to hold a sit-in on yesterday morning.
But at around midday, protestors gathered again in the square and threw stones at the military police who tried to disperse them.
Some protestors climbed onto a police van and smashed its windows with sticks and stones. The vehicle was then set ablaze.
Thousands of protestors were still at the square as of last night.
Assistant Interior Minster Sami Sedhom blamed the violence on some parties wishing to create chaos and instability in the country in order to delay the coming elections, official MENA news agency said.
"The revolution has nothing to do with sabotage or burning security vehicles," he said.
Egypt saw protests and violence recently as it prepared to start the legislative polls on November 28. On Friday, tens of thousands of protestors rallied at the Tahrir Square to protest a constitutional principle charter and the military rule.
On Thursday, 29 people were injured as about 100 Copts clashed with residents during their march toward downtown Cairo to commemorate the October 9 clashes which left at least 25 dead.
The interior ministry has launched a crackdown campaign against outlaws in order to secure the elections.
Controversy over the constitutional principles was one cause for the latest protests, as the opposition parties did not agree with the power granted to the military in its budget.
Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmi said yesterday that dialogue would be held in the coming few days with other political powers to reach an agreement on the amended document before submitting it to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces for ratification, MENA reported.
He added that a 100-member assembly to draft the new constitution would be elected by lawmakers.
According to the transition arrangements, the country's parliamentary elections will last until March 2012. A new constitution will be drafted and a referendum be held for it. Then the country's new president will be elected.
But some political groups have urged an early transfer of power to a civilian government.
Military police clashed with protestors in downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square yesterday, one day after a protest here demanding an early transfer of power to civilian rule.
The police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, and 18 rioters have been arrested.
Some 65 of the injured were rushed to hospitals for treatment, and the injured included 18 policemen, the health ministry said.
Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf called on the protestors to leave the square after the violence. However, more people marched into the square on Saturday evening, blocking the roads near the square and halting the traffic.
Earlier in the day, the security forces cleared the square, where a small group of protestors had stayed overnight and attempted to hold a sit-in on yesterday morning.
But at around midday, protestors gathered again in the square and threw stones at the military police who tried to disperse them.
Some protestors climbed onto a police van and smashed its windows with sticks and stones. The vehicle was then set ablaze.
Thousands of protestors were still at the square as of last night.
Assistant Interior Minster Sami Sedhom blamed the violence on some parties wishing to create chaos and instability in the country in order to delay the coming elections, official MENA news agency said.
"The revolution has nothing to do with sabotage or burning security vehicles," he said.
Egypt saw protests and violence recently as it prepared to start the legislative polls on November 28. On Friday, tens of thousands of protestors rallied at the Tahrir Square to protest a constitutional principle charter and the military rule.
On Thursday, 29 people were injured as about 100 Copts clashed with residents during their march toward downtown Cairo to commemorate the October 9 clashes which left at least 25 dead.
The interior ministry has launched a crackdown campaign against outlaws in order to secure the elections.
Controversy over the constitutional principles was one cause for the latest protests, as the opposition parties did not agree with the power granted to the military in its budget.
Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmi said yesterday that dialogue would be held in the coming few days with other political powers to reach an agreement on the amended document before submitting it to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces for ratification, MENA reported.
He added that a 100-member assembly to draft the new constitution would be elected by lawmakers.
According to the transition arrangements, the country's parliamentary elections will last until March 2012. A new constitution will be drafted and a referendum be held for it. Then the country's new president will be elected.
But some political groups have urged an early transfer of power to a civilian government.
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