CAIRO: Egypt's ruling military council on Sunday said in a statement that the protesters clashing with military and security forces in downtown Cairo have a “malicious plan” to disrupt the public and have sent over 160 people detained since Friday to the public prosecution on similar charges. In the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) statement, they said they were present on the streets to “protect the property of the great Egyptian people.” Ironically, the current spate of clashes in the Egyptian capital began after police reportedly abducted a protester from the sit-in at the Egyptian cabinet building on Friday morning, beat and tortured him, before he was returned. The military followed shortly behind, setting the tent city on Magles el-Shaab street ablaze before rock throwing on both sides ensued. At least 10 people have been killed in the nearly three days long clashes that began in front of the Cabinet building and have moved to a street alongside Tahrir Square. Among the dead is a 14-year-old boy. “Based on the SCAF's belief in the importance of communicating with the Egyptian people and the youth of the revolution, [we issue this statement]” the statement read. “Don't we have the right to defend the property of the great Egyptian people, which we swore to protect?” A report published by the state-run MENA news agency said that at least 9 women were among those transferred for prosecution. They are accused with setting “a number of buildings on fire, assaulting military and police personnel and throwing stones and Molotov cocktails.” At least 500 Egyptian protesters have been injured since the army attack on the sit-in, and videos and images posted on social-networking sites show military personnel throwing stones at protesters, using Molotov cocktails. Local groups have also reported the use of live ammunition against protesters over the past few days. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/7Dt6n Tags: featured, Occupy Cabinet, Protests, SCAF, Tahrir Section: Egypt, Latest News
