[ 2011-12-18 ]

Violence rocks Cairo for third straight day
CAIRO (AFP) - Clashes between Egyptian troops and
protesters rocked central Cairo Sunday in a third
straight day of violence that has left 10 people
dead and damaged a world-famous historic library.

Some 500 people have also been wounded in the
street battles outside parliament and the
government's offices where protesters have been
demanding an end to military rule.

The clashes erupted Friday overshadowing the count
from the second phase of the first parliamentary
elections since president Hosni Mubarak was ousted
in February.

Demonstrators hurled stones and pieces of metal
over a concrete wall erected by troops on a wide
avenue leading from Tahrir Square to the seat of
government, AFP journalists reported.

Outrage flared on Sunday as furious protesters
brandished the frontpage of a local paper showing
military police clubbing a veiled woman after
having ripped her clothes to reveal her bra.

In the picture and YouTube footage of the
incident, the woman is sprawled on the ground,
helmeted troops towering over her, one is seen
kicking her, and later she appears unconscious,
her stomach bared and her bra showing.

Other pictures circulating on social media
networks that have enraged protesters include one
of a military policeman looming over a sobbing
elderly lady with his truncheon.

The clashes were the deadliest in weeks.

The health ministry said late on Saturday that the
violence had killed 10 people and wounded 500
since Friday.

Prosecutors ordered that 17 people arrested on
Saturday be remanded in custody for four days.

The clashes also took their toll on the historic
Institute of Egypt which was set alight on
Saturday.

On Sunday, a group entered the premises to recover
ancient manuscripts, some of which were burned,
AFP correspondents said.

The institute for the advancement of scientific
research was founded in 1798 during Napoleon
Bonaparte's expedition to Egypt.

Culture Minister Shaker Abdel Hamid said the fire
that ripped through the institute was "a
catastrophe for science."

"The building contained important manuscripts and
rare books which have no parallel in the world,"
Abdel Hamid said on state television late
Saturday.

He said efforts were being made to salvage what
can be saved and announced the creation of a
committee of experts to restore the books and
manuscripts "when conditions permit."

Egyptian authorities have squarely blamed the
protesters for the deadly unrest.

The military council which has been ruling Egypt
since Mubarak's ouster late Saturday posted
footage on its Facebook page and YouTube of
protesters ransacking a government office on
Friday.

"Is it not our right to protect the people's
property?" said a brief message.

Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzuri raised tensions
Saturday by accusing the protesters of being
counter-revolutionaries and denying security
forces had opened fire.

Source - AFP

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