CAIRO: Calm returned to Cairo's Tahrir square after army forces attacked protesters with sticks, trying to prevent them from entering the central garden on Friday after Iftar, the meal that marks the end of the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Officers and soldiers were seen hitting protesters with sticks in an attempt to move them back from the square. According to activists, the soldiers present outnumber the protesters. The Friday march, dubbed “for the love of Egypt” saw a few thousand protesters gather shortly after Iftar in Cairo's central square and activists were chanting for the army to leave. The scuffle began after a few protesters hurled rocks at the military, which responded by throwing rocks back at the crowd. No injuries have yet to be reported. Despite the violence, activists continue to arrive at the square and preparations for the evening prayer are taking place while the armed forces show no signs of leaving. The armed forces violently dispersed protesters from the square on the first day of Ramadan, claiming they received many complaints from shop owners and residents regarding shutting down the square. Protesters had been conducting a sit-in since July 8 and tens of tents were set up, in an attempt to get their demands heard by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). The demands included speedy trials of the old regime and the officers accused of shooting protesters during the January revolution, “social justice” demands and protection for the families of those who were killed in the revolution. It is estimated that some 1000 people lost their lives due to police brutality in dispersing protests that ousted the government. BM
