Egypt army apologizes for crackdown

Egyptian military police scuffles with pro-democracy protesters in Cairo's Liberation Square on Feb. 25, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/167169.html

Egypt's ruling military council has apologized, after military police used force to break up a recent protest rally in Cairo's Liberation Square.

"What happened late Friday was the result of unintentional confrontations between the military police and the youth of the revolution," the military said in a statement.

But the apology has failed to satisfy Egyptian activists who are calling for fresh protests to denounce violence by the authorities.

Thousands of Egyptians gathered in Liberation Square on Friday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, who was appointed by ousted president Hosni Mubarak toward the end of his rule.

They also called for an immediate release of the remaining political detainees.

But military police surrounded protesters shortly after midnight, beating them with batons and attacking them with tasers.

Activists have also called for the lifting of a 30-year-old state of emergency and the disbandment of military court. They have vowed to continue demonstrations until the Egyptian army agrees to the reforms.

Protesters want the military council to hand over power to a civilian government. They say they do not want any members of Mubarak's ruling party in the post-revolution government.

The developments come as popular revolutions continue to sweep US-backed autocratic regimes across North Africa and the Middle East.