Two of Egypt's top presidential candidates, moderate Islamist Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh and the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsy have suspended their campaigns as a result of the ongoing violence in the Abbassiya district of Cairo. Aboul Fotouh said he would suspend his activists “until further notice,” citing the military's possible role in the violence that doctors at makeshift field hospitals have said has left at least 15 people dead. Fellow political leader Mohamed ElBaradei lashed out at SCAF, saying on his personal Twitter account, “The military council and the government can not provide safety or they are complicit. You have failed. Leave. Egypt is falling apart on your hands.” Activists also said they were attacked by the thugs outside Ein Shams University early on Wednesday in clashes that saw bullets fired, Molotov cocktails and rocks used. They said the thugs threw Molotov bottles from atop a bridge, injuring at least 200. Protesters said they have arrested some of the attackers and found meals from the army headquarters with them, a proof activists say, that the thugs are being paid by the armed forces, or are soldiers in plainclothes. They circulated pictures of the meal boxes on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Activists confirm that live ammunition has been used against them in addition to rubber bullets and Molotov cocktails. The clashes started last weekend when a peaceful march decided to spend the night close to the ministry of defense were attacked by unknown mobs of men, armed with knives, rocks and Molotovs. The violence, which continued on Sunday left one man dead and scores injured. Protesters were calling for the presidential elections' laws to be amended and the army chosen presidential committee to be dissolved.
