Tense truce holds in Cairo’s Tahrir Square but clashes elsewhere
- 12 years ago
Barbed wire erected by the army protects Mohamed Mahmoud Street--scene of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces off Cairo's Tahrir Square.
Demonstrators calling for the army to relinquish power have come under sustained attack by the police and sometimes the army since Saturday, though a fragile truce was holding on Thursday.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAEED KHALED GAMARI, PROTESTER, SAYING:
"With God's help, since 2:30 a.m. there have not been any clashes with the Interior Ministry or the army. We have created this barrier because of bloodshed and the injuries that have now exceeded 3,000 people. And the number of those killed is now more than 50 so we had to create this barricade."
Protesters formed a human chain blocking access to Mohamed Mahmoud Street from Tahrir Square, in an attempt to prevent further violence.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HOSSAM, PROTESTER, SAYING:
"God willing this truce will continue as it is now. I can see that everyone is standing together without any disagreement, regardless of their beliefs. And we are here waiting, because if anyone gets through and does anything there could be problems."
Yet despite the truce, those occupying Tahrir Square remain defiant--vowing to stay put until the army steps down, and chanting for "freedom".
The brutality of the police response to the demonstrations has galvanized activists, who say the tear gas used was more potent than during the January uprising, causing convulsions.
Elsewhere in Egypt, though, the violence continues such as here in the Suez Canal town of Ismailia, where the army deployed armoured vehicles onto the streets - casting doubt whether parliamentary elections scheduled to begin on Monday will take place.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
Demonstrators calling for the army to relinquish power have come under sustained attack by the police and sometimes the army since Saturday, though a fragile truce was holding on Thursday.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAEED KHALED GAMARI, PROTESTER, SAYING:
"With God's help, since 2:30 a.m. there have not been any clashes with the Interior Ministry or the army. We have created this barrier because of bloodshed and the injuries that have now exceeded 3,000 people. And the number of those killed is now more than 50 so we had to create this barricade."
Protesters formed a human chain blocking access to Mohamed Mahmoud Street from Tahrir Square, in an attempt to prevent further violence.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HOSSAM, PROTESTER, SAYING:
"God willing this truce will continue as it is now. I can see that everyone is standing together without any disagreement, regardless of their beliefs. And we are here waiting, because if anyone gets through and does anything there could be problems."
Yet despite the truce, those occupying Tahrir Square remain defiant--vowing to stay put until the army steps down, and chanting for "freedom".
The brutality of the police response to the demonstrations has galvanized activists, who say the tear gas used was more potent than during the January uprising, causing convulsions.
Elsewhere in Egypt, though, the violence continues such as here in the Suez Canal town of Ismailia, where the army deployed armoured vehicles onto the streets - casting doubt whether parliamentary elections scheduled to begin on Monday will take place.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.