CAIRO: An Egyptian protester was crushed by a police armored vehicle on Saturday early morning, witnesses and activists reported. The man reportedly had his pelvis crushed after being run over by a armored vehicle in front of the Egyptian cabinet building, as protesters began an open-ended sit-in to bar the newly appointed prime minister from entering the building. Hundreds of Egyptian activists had gathered early on Friday evening in front of the government's headquarters to demand an end to military rule and show their anger at the appointment of a former Hosni Mubarak official to prime minister. Police then clashed with the protesters early Saturday, firing tear gas and allegedly attempting to run over protesters. An Associated Press cameraman saw three police troop carriers and an armored vehicle being chased off by rock-throwing protesters. Video clips posted on social networking sites showed protesters rushing to rescue a heavily bleeding man. Witnesses say the protester was killed when a police vehicle ran over him. Activists told Bikyamasr.com on the scene that they would not “let the military continue” and promised to stay until their demands are met. “We are putting pressure on SCAF,” said ElHamy Shawki, a journalist from al-Alaam al-Youm, who told Bikyamasr.com that he was not present as a reporter, but a concerned Egyptian and activist. The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has taken control of the country since a popular uprising ousted former President Hosni Mubarak in February this year. “It sends a better message than Tahrir, meaning we can take the parliament,” he continued, when asked why they had moved down the road from Cairo's iconic square. “We aren't going to take Tahrir, we are going to take other streets,” he added. BM
