CAIRO — Soldiers stormed an anti-military protest camp outside Egypt’s Cabinet building Friday, beating women with sticks and hurling chunks of concrete and glass onto protesters from the roof of the parliament in a resurgence of turmoil only a day after millions voted in parliamentary elections.
At least three protesters were shot to death in the clashes, including a prominent Muslim cleric, activists said. The heavy-handed assault was apparently an attempt to clear out protesters who have been camped out in front of the building for three weeks demanding the ruling military leave power.
But the mayhem — which came despite promises from the army-appointed prime minister that the protesters would not be cleared by force — threatened to spark a new round of violence after deadly clashes between youth revolutionaries and security forces in November that lasted for days and left more than 40 dead.
Several female protesters cowered on the pavement as military police beat them with truncheons and long sticks. Another woman was seen bring dragged away by her hair by soldiers.
Plainclothes and uniformed security officers threw slabs of concrete and stones on protesters from atop the parliament building, according to state TV footage and videos and photos posted by protesters on social networking sites.
Protesters threw fire bombs and rocks at the security officers, lighting a part of parliament on fire and chanting, “Down with the military.”
“It’s pretty ironic that the military is throwing rocks at protesters from the parliament building, where a sign is hanging that says democracy is the power of the people,” said protester Mostafa Sheshtawy.
Hours after sunset, the crowds of protesters had grown to hundreds and clashes continued, with youths hiding behind a makeshift barrier of metal sheets and an overturned car, throwing volleys of stones at military police lined up in the broad avenue in front of the parliament and Cabinet headquarters.
There were reports of live gunfire from the rooftops. One protester, Islam Mohammed, said a fellow protester pushed him aside and was hit by a bullet in the stomach.
“He took a bullet instead of me and fell to the ground. I have his blood on my shirt and hands,” Mohammed said. The condition of the wounded man was not known.
The Health Ministry said at least 222 people suffered injuries, including broken bones and gunshot wounds.
Related
SYRIA: Tens of thousands protest regime.
Tens of thousands of Syrians, some of them calling for their president’s execution, protested the authoritarian regime Friday.
Security forces opened fire during protests and conducted security raids in several places across the country, killing at least 10 people, most of them in the rebellious central region, activists said. The army also sent reinforcements into a southern area where military defectors recently launched deadly attacks on regime troops.
LIBYA: Panetta says more time will help leaders.
The U.S. needs to give Libya’s leaders more time to gain control of the militias that overthrew Moammar Khadafy before determining how to help the fledgling government, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Friday, a day ahead of his historic visit to Tripoli.
Ahead of Panetta’s visit, the Obama administration announced it had lifted sanctions the U.S. imposed on Libya in February to choke off the Khadafy regime’s funds.
BAHRAIN: Daughter of activist detained for demonstrating.
A daughter of a prominent Bahraini activist was detained during an anti-government demonstration in the gulf kingdom, which has been roiled by months of protests and crackdowns.
Zainab al-Khawaja, a 28-year- old blogger and activist, was arrested late Thursday during a rally outside the capital, Manama, said Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. The government confirmed her arrest.
Denver Post wire services
