Egypt's army to use force on protesters

Egyptian protesters shout slogans against toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak during a protest in Cairo's Liberation Square on April 8, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/173991.html

The Egyptian army has threatened to use force to end protests in Cairo's Liberation Square following a crack down on demonstrators camped out in the square early Saturday morning.

Egypt's ruling junta warned on Saturday that troops would clear protesters from central Cairo's Liberation Square with "firmness and force" if they continued to demonstrate there.

"Tahrir Square will be emptied of protesters with firmness and force to ensure life goes back to normal," a senior military officer said.

The death toll from the security crackdown on Egyptian protesters in the square has climbed to six after some of the critically wounded died in hospitals.

Troops and police used taser guns and batons to disperse several thousands of protesters that camped out in the square overnight, a Press TV correspondent reported on Saturday.

Witnesses say sounds of gunshots rang out across the square in central Cairo.

Egyptian protesters defied the use of force by soldiers that tried to disperse them. The protesters have vowed to continue demonstrating.

Earlier reports said two people were killed and 18 others wounded. However, medical sources now say the death toll is expected to rise as some of the injured are in critical condition.

On Friday, tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered to demand the prosecution of ousted president Hosni Mubarak and other leading figures serving in his regime.

Protesters also marched to the Israeli embassy in Cairo with plans to fly the Palestinian flag over the compound. This led to clashes erupting outside the Israeli embassy.

Egyptian protesters have reportedly retaken Cairo's Liberation Square hours after security forces attempted to disperse them.

Thousands more joined the protesters in the historic square on Saturday. They demanded that the country's military rulers hand over power to a civilian government.

The development comes two months after Egypt's historic revolution ousted former US-backed president Mubarak.