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Egypt: clashes between the army and demonstrators continue in front of the Houses of Parliament
The violence erupted yesterday afternoon during a demonstration against the army. The harsh reaction of the military resulted in eight dead and about 300 wounded. Young Coptic Catholic Egyptian emphasizes the shock of the population and describes senseless repression of the security forces.
Cairo (AsiaNews) – Clashes that began yesterday afternoon between the army and demonstrators demanding the resignation of the High Council of the military (Hull) in front of the parliament building in Cairo continue today. The toll is now eight people dead and 300 wounded. The escalation of violence has rekindled controversy against the army, which has bloodily suppressed all forms of protest by young people for months.
"We do not understand why we are doing this, the population is in shock and waiting for a response from Hull," says Nagui Damian, a young Coptic Christian, close to the democratic movements that have emerged with the revolution of Jasmine. "The fighting - he explains – continued throughout the night. The army are attacking defenseless people without scruples. A girl (pictured) was beaten to death by other soldiers. " The clashes took place a few days after the second round of Egyptian elections, the first since the fall of Mubarak. According to the young Christian, this climate may threaten the third phase of voting due to be held in January.
Sparked yesterday morning after the beating of a young protester by the military, the fighting reached its peak in late afternoon, when the army forcibly evacuated a camp set up by protesters near Tahrir Square. The young people responded by trying to force the barbed wire fence surrounding the parliament building. This in turn triggered the police violent response, who began throwing stones and tear gas from the roofs, forcing the activists to protect themselves with helmets, sheet metal and satellite dishes. In the evening the Prime Minister said that the ongoing violence "is not a revolution, but an attack on Egypt," calling the young demonstrators counter-revolutionaries who want to destabilize the country.
Since last November 25, hundreds of Egyptians have been protesting the militaries appointment of Kamal el Ganzuri as new head of government. Ganzuri was prime minister under President Hosni Mubarak. The activists also demand the transfer of power by the Supreme Council of the armed forces to civil authority.