4:57 pm: Top police official tells state TV in a phone interview that the police have exercised the utmost level of restraint with protesters 4:54 pm: For almost an hour, live images broadcasted from the State TV only focus on the armored truck on fire. The TV describes protesters as “rioters,” and quotes police sources as saying that several have been arrested. 4:50 pm: Mohamed Saad al-Katatny, Secretary General of the Freedom and Justice Party, denounces the security forces' attack against dozens of peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square and the use of excessive force to break up their sit-in. Katatny says the incident brings to mind the police's history oppressive practices under Mubarak's regime. 4: 50 pm: The 25 January Youth Coalition strongly condemns what it describes as a "brutal assault" against peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square. “This attack goes against all laws and is a clear violation by the military council and the Egyptian government of citizens' rights to express their opinions,” the statement said. The group added that martyrs' deaths undergirded the revolution's success and allowed the SCAF to be in power. The statement called for Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy to be dismissed, due to repeated attacks on protesters and rights violations. 4:45 pm: Live images broadcasted from the State TV show armored truck in flames. 4:40 pm: Nine people were transferred to hospitals after being injured in clashes with the police, says the Ministry of Health. The wounded have left the hospitals after receiving medical care. 4:38 pm: Alaa Abbas, a man who was injured during the revolution, is interviewed by phone on state-controlled Nile TV. He attacks Field Marshal Tantawy, saying that Egypt's de-facto leader is a criminal who betrayed the nation. 4:37 pm: Amina Ismail tweets that “@My fatjher jst called me he saw 25 #csf vehicle heading from el hussian to #tahrir” 4:33 pm: Protesters expel a State TV cameraman from the square, Al-Shorouk newspaper reports on its Twitter account. 4:23 pm: Protesters throw a Molotov cocktail at the police, Al-Masry Al-Youm correspondent reports. 4:17 pm: Seven security personnel are reported injured, a security official tells state-owned MENA news agency. The Interior Ministry says in a statement that the security forces exercised the utmost self-restraint in breaking up Tahrir Square sit-in as some protesters tried to provoke security forces and threw stones, pieces of wood and empty bottles at them resulting in the injury of seven policemen. The injured are being transferred to the hospital, says the security official, adding five "rioters" are in custody and legal measures are being taken against them. 4:09 pm: MENA news agency reports that police closed Mohamed Mahmoud St. and Qasr Einy St. in order to avoid any attempts to break into the Ministry of Interior. 4:00 pm: Increasing numbers of protesters flock to Tahrir to express solidarity with protesters who have staged a sit-in in the square. They chant “The people want to bring down Field Marshall (Tantawi)” in rejection of violence used in dispersing the protest. 3:55 pm: People run towards Qasr al-Ainy street throwing rocks at hundreds of Central Security Forces. 3: 50 pm: Tear gas canister strikes in Tahrir close to Mugamma. 3:45 pm: Two ambulance cars come to rescue injured protesters. 3:20 pm: Some main entrances to Tahrir Square are opened to cars. ** Earler in the day: The Interior Ministry says in a statement that the security forces exercised the utmost self-restraint in breaking up Tahrir Square sit-in as some protesters tried to provoke security forces and threw stones, pieces of wood and empty bottles at them resulting in the injury of seven policemen. The injured were transferred to hospital, said the security official adding five rioters were arrested and legal measures have been taken against them. Police and protesters clashed for control of downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square on Saturday, after security forces tried to stop activists from staging a long-term sit-in in the symbolic site. Protesters attacked a police armored truck, shaking it and pummeling it with rocks. Earlier in the day, riot police beat protesters and dismantled a small tent city. The clashes occurred after less than 500 protestors camped in the central square overnight following a massive Friday rally. Hundreds of riot police streamed into Tahrir Square, blocking off the entrances and clashing with protesters, trying to break up the sit-in, which also included relatives of victims killed during the revolt that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak in February. Police were seen beating activists who challenged them and an Associated Press cameraman saw police arrest three people who refused to leave. Stubborn protesters played cat-and-mouse with riot police as they were chased out of the square and into side streets. Protesters chanted anti-security slogans including, "Riot Police are Thugs and Thieves" and "Down with the Marshal," in reference to Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's military ruler. According to eyewitnesses, scores of protestors then poured into Tahrir once more to support those who were beaten by the police in Saturday's morning. Later, protesters managed to take control of the square, forcing all the security forces to withdrew to Mohamed Mahmoud St., which leads to the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior. Police used tear gas and fired bullets in the air in a move to disperse about 3000 protesters who managed retake the square and block traffic. Shimaa Alelimay, an eyewitness who was present when protesters captured an armored truck, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that some protesters tried to save the truck and asks others not to set it on fire.
