Armed forces intensified their presence to protect key public institutions and state faci8lities as well as major universities in anticipation of wide-ranging protests expected Friday after weeks of calls by the Salafist Front, supported by the Muslim Brotherhood. The vicinity of Rabaa square witnessed heavy security with 13 armoured vehicles deployed at Tayaran street and five at Nasr street, which lead to the Square, state-run MENA reported. The Nahda Square in Giza also saw tight security measures. Armed forces deployed an armoured vehicle at Cairo University's main gate and two others on Nahda street. Rapid intervention forces were stationed at the Giza zoo. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab arrived at the Cabinet operation room early Friday to discuss security plans in governorates to assess the situation. Mahlab said there were no major incidents and only small, non-violent protests had taken place. The Cabinet stated that an army senior officer was killed, another officer and soldier injured in armed attack in Gesr Suez near Heliopolis on Friday, adding that a number of small protests were dispersed in different regions and dozens of suspects were arrested. In another hand, the state news said that trains operate normally on Friday, and all the lines of Cairo's underground metro are also operating.
