Military rulers apologise for protest deaths

EGYPT’S military rulers apologised for the deaths of demonstrators at the hands of police, while insisting elections will go ahead next week as planned.

“The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) presents its regrets and deep apologies for the deaths of martyrs from among Egypt’s loyal sons during the recent events in Tahrir Square,” it said in a statement on its Facebook page.

There were still large crowds in Cairo’s Tahrir Square yesterday, the scene of days of deadly clashes between security forces and protesters demanding an immediate end of military rule, but the mood was calm after a truce negotiated by Muslim clerics.