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    November 21, 2011

Cairo Clashes Enter 3rd Day, Spread Across Egypt

   Elizabeth Arrott | Cairo
   Protester runs for cover during clashes with Egyptian riot police,
   Cairo, Nov. 21, 2011.
   Photo: AP
   Protester runs for cover during clashes with Egyptian riot police,
   Cairo, Nov. 21, 2011.

   Anger at the head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces,
   Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, mounted Monday, as casualties
   from three days of fighting grew.
   Anti-government protesters in Cairo continued fighting Egyptian
   security forces, holding Tahrir Square as violence spread to other
   cities. Health and morgue officials report more than 20 people have
   been killed and 1,700 injured in the unrest.
   "No Tantawi. No Tantawi. No Tantawi," chanted crowds that strengthened
   their positions at the outskirts of the square, holding off security
   forces who fired back at the stone-throwing demonstrators.
   "I will say for Marshal Tantawi: everybody in Egypt says 'go! You
   should be go!" yelled one protester.
   Doctors were volunteering at makeshift field hospitals in the center of
   the square.
   "The majority of the cases are suffocation from tear gas," said a
   surgeon. "The others are just small bullets; it's called rubber
   bullets. We are just trying to do the first aid, but we facing some
   cases that are difficult to manage."
   Publisher and long-time dissident Hisham Kassem, at his office near the
   square, said Egypt's security forces are unable to deal with the
   situation.
   "Our police force and even the military elements that support them or
   help them are not trained to break up a riot properly," said Kassem.
   "They either withdraw or it's excessive use of force. In fact, they
   have been trained under Mubarak to use force excessively and
   unnecessarily, so it's become a standoff."
   An army spokesman on Monday justified the offensive, saying protests
   are hurting Egypt's economy. But the war-like tactics have enraged
   demonstrators, turning them even more against a military that, during
   the uprising earlier this year, had been their champion.
   "Mr. Tantawi is a soldier," said a protester. "Soldiers have a place:
   to keep us and to fight our enemy outside Egypt, not to direct their
   guns to us here inside the country."
   The move to civilian rule is set to begin in one week with
   parliamentary elections, but completing the transition could take until
   2013, and some fear the military will use the violence as an excuse to
   drag it out even longer.
   Kassem disagrees.
   "If they stay much longer they're going to be facing much more violence
   and they're aware of that," he said. "None of them are really
   interested in staying in power. Like they said, 'We know how to run a
   military. We don't know how to run a country,' and with the election of
   a parliament and a president, a new hope, a new grace period will be
   given to the people."
   An informal survey of protesters indicates many do plan to take part in
   voting. As for protesters who want the military to step down
   immediately, Kassem said there's not much of an alternative for the
   interim.
   "I just feel like saying, 'Well, sonny, you mind telling me who exactly
   is going to take power? Because I live here too and I'm concerned about
   my future and I still think they're the best bet.'"
   Egyptian authorities say elections will begin on time next Monday.

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