Violent clashes continue in Egypt

EGYPTIAN soldiers and police set fire to protest tents in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and fired tear gas and rubber bullets yesterday to drive out thousands demanding that the military rulers quickly transfer power to a civilian government.

At least seven protesters were killed and hundreds were injured. It was the second day of clashes marking a sharp escalation of tensions before the first elections since the longtime leader Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February.

The military took over the country, promising a swift transition to civilian rule. But the pro-democracy protesters who led the uprising have grown increasingly angry with the ruling generals, and suspect they are trying to cling to power even after an elected parliament is seated and a new president is voted in.

The military-backed cabinet said in a statement that elections set to begin on November 28 would take place on time and thanked the police for their “restraint,” language that is likely to enrage the protesters even more.

“We’re not going anywhere,” said protester Mohammed Radwan after security forces tried unsuccessfully to push the crowds out of Tahrir, the epicentre of the uprising. “The mood is good now and people are chanting again,” he added after many of the demonstrators returned.

Two protesters were killed on Saturday, putting the toll for two days of violence to nine. The clashes were some of the worst since the uprising ended and were also one of only a few violent confrontations to involve the police.

The black-clad police were a hated symbol of Mubarak’s regime and after the uprising, they have largely stayed in the background while the military took charge.

The military has pledged to hand power to an elected civilian government, but has yet to set a specific date. The protests over the past two days have demanded a specific date be set.

According to one timetable floated by the army, the handover will happen after presidential elections late next year or early in 2013. The protesters say this is too long and accuse the military of dragging its feet. They want a handover immediately after the end of the staggered parliamentary elections, which begin on November 28 and end in March.

The protesters’ suspicions about the military were fed by a proposal issued by the military-appointed cabinet last week. It would shield the armed forces from any civilian oversight and give the generals veto power over legislation dealing with military affairs.

But other concerns are also feeding the tensions. Many Egyptians are anxious about what the impending elections will bring.

Specifically they worry stalwarts of Mubarak’s ruling party could win a significant number of seats because the military did not ban them from running for public office as requested by activists.

The failure to issue such a ban has fed widely held suspicion that the generals are reluctant to dismantle the old regime, partly out of loyalty to Mubarak, their longtime mentor.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces issued a statement expressing “regret for the events.” The council does not intend “to extend the transitional period and will not permit by any means hindering the process of democratic transition”, it said a statement read out on state TV.

The violence began on Saturday when security forces stormed a sit-in at Tahrir Square staged by protesters wounded in clashes during the uprising in January and February and frustrated by the slow pace of bringing those responsible to justice.

The wounded, some on crutches, ran away when police attacked, but some fell down and were beaten by police.

The violence resumed yesterday, when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to try to clear about 5,000 protesters still in Tahrir. Many chanted “freedom, freedom”

Around sundown police and troops chased protesters out of the square. They set tents, blankets and banners ablaze and a pall of black smoke rose as the sound of gunshots rang out.