CAIRO: Egypt's al-Azhar, the world's leading Sunni Islamic institution, condemned the police violence against Tahrir protesters and pleaded with them to not “point their arms at the chests of Egyptians.” Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb read a statement on Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr news channel on Wednesday asking the ministry of interior directly to halt the ongoing violence. The plea is unprecedented for al-Azhar, as it was considered a pro-government body for decades, which never went against the official story of the state. The violence in Tahrir entered its fifth day on Wednesday, after police forcibly removed few hundred protesters who spent the night after a Friday demonstration. The clashes have accumulated over 3,000 injured and, according to medical sources speaking to Bikyamasr.com, over 90 dead. The sheikh also called on the protesters to remain peaceful. BM