Three killed, hundreds injured as Egyptians protest against army rule

CAIRO (BNO NEWS) — Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square this weekend to demand an end to military rule, resulting in a crackdown from security forces which left at least three people killed and hundreds more injured.

Scores of protesters, mainly Islamists, have gathered at the square since Friday to demand a swift transfer of power to an elected government by April 2012. They also repudiated proposed constitutional reforms that they say will grant the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) unfettered powers.

Security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and shotguns on Saturday and Sunday to disperse the thousands of protesters at several locations in the Egyptian capital, leaving at least one person dead and more than 750 others injured. In the northern city of Alexandria, where thousands also gathered, two people were killed when snipers fired live ammunition.

For months now, the ruling SCAF has been criticized for various reasons, including the continuing military trials of civilians, a deteriorating national economy and for allegedly ‘ignoring’ the demands of the January 25 Revolution. Activists and human rights organizations have criticized the ruling military council for its use of military tribunals to prosecute thousands of individuals it accuses of breaking public order.

Islamists, who are expected to win a majority in the forthcoming parliamentary election, dominated Tahrir’s Friday rally in what was a show of force by groups and parties from Egypt’s broad political and ideological landscape. The Muslim Brotherhood, which has notably boycotted most of the million-man marches that have taken place following the popular uprising, was significantly present, outnumbering its counterparts.

The military council has been in control of Egypt since the regime of President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February. Upon assuming power, the SCAF vowed to end its interim rule after a six-month transitional period.

This has not been the case, as the ruling military council has maintained its hold on power for over 10 months now. Egyptians from across the political and ideological spectrum have been taking to the streets to call for a fixed timeline bookended by the speedy departure of the military rulers.

The protests come just days before Egyptians are scheduled to take part in the first parliamentary elections since the ouster of Mubarak. The elections are due to take place in three stages, with the first to be held on November 28.