Egyptian riot police backed by armoured vehicles stormed Cairo’s Tahrir Square to disperse stone-throwing protesters, firing tear gas and shots to scatter the demonstrators, an AFP reporter said.
A health ministry official said at least 16 people had been injured in the clashes, some with birdshot wounds. The protesters were marking the anniversary of deadly protests in 2011 against the military which took power between president Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow and his now deposed successor Mohamed Morsi’s election in June 2012. Egypt is divided between supporters of Morsi and of the military that overthrew him, but yesterday’s protesters accused both sides of betraying the goals of a 2011 uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak. Clashes erupted near the Arab League’s headquarters at the corner of the iconic square, where millions rallied to pressure first Mubarak and then Morsi to resign.
Police fired tear gas and shots at the protesters, who were hurling stones, before storming the square with armoured vehicles, scattering the few hundred protesters into side streets. Protesters covered their faces to protect themselves from the tear gas and health ministry official Ahmed al-Ansari said 16 people were injured in the violence. ‘I am here to retaliate for my friends killed in Mohamed Mahmud,’ said one protester, referring to 2011 clashes between protesters and police in a street off Tahrir Square. ‘No one has brought them their rights,’ added the young protester.
A health ministry official said at least 16 people had been injured in the clashes, some with birdshot wounds. The protesters were marking the anniversary of deadly protests in 2011 against the military which took power between president Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow and his now deposed successor Mohamed Morsi’s election in June 2012. Egypt is divided between supporters of Morsi and of the military that overthrew him, but yesterday’s protesters accused both sides of betraying the goals of a 2011 uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak. Clashes erupted near the Arab League’s headquarters at the corner of the iconic square, where millions rallied to pressure first Mubarak and then Morsi to resign.
Police fired tear gas and shots at the protesters, who were hurling stones, before storming the square with armoured vehicles, scattering the few hundred protesters into side streets. Protesters covered their faces to protect themselves from the tear gas and health ministry official Ahmed al-Ansari said 16 people were injured in the violence. ‘I am here to retaliate for my friends killed in Mohamed Mahmud,’ said one protester, referring to 2011 clashes between protesters and police in a street off Tahrir Square. ‘No one has brought them their rights,’ added the young protester.