Deadly clashes
December 18, 2011
Cairo was rocked by violent clashes on Sunday as protesters demanding an end to military rule battled with troops for a third straight day. Ten people have been killed and 441 wounded since trouble began in Egypt's capital on Friday.
At least 164 protesters, including minors, were detained as demonstrators hurled stones at soldiers outside parliament and government offices in the heart of the city. Furious protesters brandished images showing military police clubbing a veiled woman, which were spread across the internet on Saturday.
A historic library housing priceless national archives was also destroyed in the violence.
Activists accuse the army of mishandling Egypt's promised transition from military to civilian rule and committing human rights abuses. Seeking to depict the protestors as isolated hooligans, however, the military council issued a statement on their Facebook page on Sunday calling the clashes part of a "conspiracy" against Egypt. It said its forces had the right to defend the "property of the great people of Egypt."
Parliamentary elections
The military took over in Egypt after longtime President Hosni Mubarak was driven from power by popular protest in February. It was initially embraced by many as a "protector of the revolution."
But deepening hostilities between the military council and the protest leaders swelled late on Thursday when soldiers stormed an anti-military protest camp outside the cabinet building near Tahrir Square, triggering the latest round of violence.
The increasing tensions have overshadowed a vote count which continued on Sunday in the second round of Egypt's multi-stage parliamentary election.
Initial figures suggest that Islamist parties, led by the Muslim Brotherhood, continued to lead the vote after winning a clear majority of seats in the first round of voting last month. Meanwhile, the young activists who led the movement against Mubarak have not translated that success into victory at the polls.
The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces will retain power even after the third and final round of voting takes place in January, but has pledged to hand over to an elected president by July.
Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (AP, AFP)
Editor: Nicole Goebel