CAIRO: Egypt's Ministry of health said early Friday afternoon that 36 people from the Egyptian cabinet sit-in were injured in the clashes that broke out in the early hours of the day. Adel Adawei, deputy minister, said 10 of those injured were treated on site in ambulances and makeshift field hospitals, while 20 were taken to Qasr al-Aini hospital and two to Munira hospital. He said one protester was transferred to the Coptic hospital in the Ramsis neighborhood of Cairo. The deputy minister said that the majority of the injuries were a result of stone. Activists and protesters told Bikyamasr.com that the number of injured is “much higher,” and claimed that at least two people have been killed, one by a rock being thrown from a high building next to the cabinet, and another as a result of military police violence. Protesters said that the military police started attacking the sit-in around 2 AM. The military cleared the street in front of the cabinet building and torched their tents, forcing the protesters to flee. Police however, chased after the protesters, beating them severely, activists reported. A makeshift hospital was erected in a side street on the opposite side of the now gone tent city, and tens of protesters are being treated. Egyptian activists say the number of the injuries is far higher than the official numbers. They also accused the police of using live ammunition on them, as one of them was hit in the thigh with a bullet. Bikyamasr.com photographer on the scene in the early morning hours also took a picture of what appears to be a shell. Several leading activists have been detained, but shortly released. Activist Nour Ayman Nour reported that he was released, but after he and others received a beating at the hands of security forces. “Was beaten and detained but being released now with everyone with me,” wrote the activist on his personal Twitter account. Mona Seif and Sanaa Seif, jailed blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah's sisters and activists in the “No Military Trials” organization, were also detained, but Mona was released soon after. The sister, Sanaa, reportedly suffered head wounds during her detainment, but has been released from custody. Many female activists reported that the police were violent with women, adding that an army policeman slapped an elderly woman in the street. Other women reported that they were hit in the head and on the back with wooden sticks. The sit-in began in opposition of the newly formed government, led by Kamal al-Ganzoury, a former prime minister from the ousted regime. They vowed to stay at the cabinet and prevent the new ministers from entering. The new minister of interior, Mohamed Ibrahim said the sit-in would not be dispersed using force, but the military police seems to disagree. Online video posted by activists soon after the violence erupted shows military soldiers throwing stones, pieces of glass and random objects from the roof of the cabinet building at the protesters below. Among the injuries, a young child had his lip cut open and had to have stitches in his forehead after being hit with a rock from above. ** Bikyamasr.com will keep you updated as the situation unfolds. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/jv9Rn No related posts. Tags: Cabinet, featured, Injured, Protests, SCAF, Violence Section: Egypt, Health, Latest News
