The area between Tahrir Square and Qasr Al-Nil bridge became a battlefield after it witnessed non-stopping clashes between Central Security Forces (CSF) and protesters. The CSF raided Tahrir Square and arrested 73 protesters on Sunday. The CSF move came after Prime Minister Hisham Kandil ordered the square to be opened to traffic. The police removed all tents apart from a handful pitched on the main traffic island. By noon the arrests had been made. Within hours, though, Tahrir Square was once again closed. The 6 October and Qasr Al-Nil bridges were intermittently blocked on both Sunday and Monday, and by Monday evening so was the Corniche facing the Semiramis Hotel. Skirmishes continued overnight between a limited number of protesters and police while close to the US Embassy in Garden City young protesters were hurling stones at security forces. The confrontations escalated on Sunday evening when a police truck parked in front of the Egyptian Museum was seized. It was taken to Tahrir Square and set alight by protesters chanting “the Ministry of Interior's officers are thugs.” In the clashes that ensued police fired volleys of tear gas and birdshot to disperse protesters. Dozens were arrested and referred to the prosecutor- general. The attempt to open Tahrir Square , which has been effectively closed to traffic since November, followed clashes on Saturday between security forces and protesters blocking the Corniche. The scene became more bloody when a police vehicle hit five protesters in Merit Pasha Street, close to Tahrir Square. The sit-in in Tahrir began on 22 November when President Mohamed Morsi issued a constitutional decree placing himself beyond any judicial review. Tahrir Square was not the only flashpoint in recent days. Ultras Ahli blocked Salah Salem Road which leads to Cairo International Airport on Sunday night to protest against US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Egypt and Washington's interference in Egyptian political affairs. Members of the group set fire to tyres bringing traffic in both directions to a standstill. In downtown Cairo, meanwhile, Ultras laid siege to the Central Bank, blocking access to the building and obstructing traffic in the area. About 600 protesters from the football fan group prevented employees and customers from entering the bank. The siege precedes a 9 March court ruling in the Port Said stadium case. Ahli Ultras are demanding harsh sentences against the remaining 52 defendants, including officials of both Egypt's Interior Ministry and Port Said's Masri football club. Last January a court sentenced 21 defendants to death for their involvement in the killing of 74 Ahli fans in Egypt's worst stadium disaster. The ruling sparked riots in Port Said which led to at least 40 dead. “We will not sleep or rest until we see that justice has been achieved and we have secured revenge on those who killed our brothers in the Port Said stadium,” said Mohamed Seif, an Ultras supporter. The group, he said, is planning more protests in Cairo and Port Said ahead of the expected ruling.
