CAIRO: Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has ordered the Ministerial Security Committee to release all civilians detained in Tahrir Square on Friday and Saturday when the military cleared the square using force. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said in a press statement that 42 civilians were arrested on Saturday morning including three foreigners. At least two demonstrators were killed and at least 70 injured in clashes between the Egyptian army and demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square early Saturday morning. The confrontation occurred between demonstrators and an uncertain number of Egyptian security forces around 3 a.m. Saturday morning. The army's crackdown on protesters came after another Friday of contestation. Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Tahrir to contribute to what was reportedly the biggest demonstration after the square was forcibly cleared by the army on March 10. A group of some 4,000 protesters still filled the square late Friday night, and the protesters were joined by a group of around 15-20 army Officers in defiance of an official order banning army personnel from participating. The move increased tensions in the square. Dozens of people gathered around the officers to prevent them being arrested by the army, however troops approached and surrounded the square. Unconfirmed sources report three of the officers were killed during the crackdown. Thousands still demonstrate in Tahrir currently, after the military police left the square. BM
