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Tahrir Square

November 21, 2011 by · Comments Off on Tahrir Square 

Tahrir Square, Protesters against Egypt’s military rulers remain camped in Cairo’s Tahrir Square for a third day, after the deaths of at least 13 people in violence over the weekend.

Security forces launched a major assault to clear the square on Sunday, but protesters returned within an hour.

The unrest casts a shadow over elections due to start next week.

It is the longest continuous protest since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February.

Demonstrators say they fear Egypt’s governing Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) are trying to retain their grip on power.

The council, led by Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, is charged with overseeing the country’s transition to democracy after three decades of autocratic rule under Mr Mubarak.

‘Worst violence in months’

Clashes were reported late into the night, with the injured being taken to makeshift clinics on the streets.

Demonstrators on Sunday were seen throwing stones and petrol bombs at armoured personnel carriers and police. Security forces responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Witnesses reported scenes of panic when hundreds of soldiers and police beat protesters on their heads as they chased them out of Tahrir Square.

Protesters – some of them brandishing spent bullet casings – accuse security forces of also using live fire, a claim denied by police.

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