2:05 Security forces have created a cordon in front of the Sheikh Rihan Street which leads to the Ministry of Interior. Although there have been reports that protesters are now heading to Tahrir Square, the traffic in the square is so far normal. 2:00 About a dozen have climbed aloft the cabinet building and are throwing stones at protesters demonstrating below. Protesters are waving at the security forces on top of the building and screaming "if you are real men, come down." 1:35 Fighting has resumed once again after protesters detained by security forces were released. A group of 20 protesters were detained between the cabinet building and the Taawon gas station in Qasr Al-Aini Street, but were slowly released after being beaten. However, one of the protesters threw a stone at the security forces which then led the latter to renew their attacks on protesters by beating them with plastic batons and electric sticks. A group of twenty protesters are now trapped in a sideway street leading to the district of Garden City and are unable to escape. Several commando officers are also now present at the scene. 12: 50 Egyptian activist Ziad Al-Eleimi was beaten by security forces amid the clashes that erupted on Friday morning between protesters staging a sit-in in front of the cabinet headquarters and security forces. Al-Elemi , a founding member of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party , is also a lawyer, human rights activist and a founding, and leading member of the Revolution's Youth Coalition (RYC). Al-Elemi was at the top of the candidate list of the electoral alliance of the Egyptian Bloc for the seat in one of Cairo's districts during the first phase of the elections. 12: 45 Fighting has stopped for now between protesters and military police in front of the Cabinet offices in downtown Cairo after the former came under attack from the Army. According to an Ahram Online reporter on the scene, a line of soldiers are blocking any approach to the Cabinet while a group of protesters are being detained in Qasr El-Aini street. After being held for some time, the detained female protesters were slowly released. Our reporter witnessed several of them wounded and in obvious shock while one was unable to walk and had to be carried. Activist Nour Ayman Nour, son of possible presidential candidate Ayman Nour, was among those detained in the street. He told Ahram Online that security forces agreed to release all those who are held in the street with the exception of protester Mohamed Magdy, who will be handed over to the Ministry of Interior. 10: 45 A stone fight erupted early Friday morning between military police and protesters staging a sit-in in front of the Egyptian Cabinet offices. Military police then attacked protesters forcing them to leave Qasr El-Aini street, leaving scores injured. Many protesters have been arrested. Eyewitnesses told Ahram Online that several unidentified attackers climbed neighbouring buildings around the Cabinet offices in Maglis Al-Shaab Street in downtown Cairo, and began hurling stones and wood panels at the protesters down below. Most protesters are now in the neighbouring Qasr El-Aini Street in front of the Shura Council (upper parliamentary house). Several activists have since called for a march towards Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the Egyptian revolution to protest the latest attack. Hundreds of protesters began an open-ended sit-in outside the Cabinet building on 25 November to protest the appointment of Kamal El-Ganzouri as prime minister, preventing the 77-year-old, Mubarak-era politician from gaining entrance to his office. On Wednesday, 14 December, 60 protesters suffered severe food poisoning – with at least eight being hospitalised – after an unidentified woman distributed Hawawshi (spicy minced meat) sandwiches at the sit-in. Rumours and accusations subsequently spread that the sandwiches had been deliberately contaminated to force the protesters to clear the area. Earlier today, military police had briefly evacuated the streets from protesters, by firing live ammunition in the air to disperse them. At the same time, a fire erupted in the Authority for Roads and Bridges on Qasr El-Aini Street near the cabinet. Firemen have since brought the blaze under control.
