CAIRO: Egyptian army forces used force to clear the Abbassiya sit-in on Friday and engaged in clashes with protesters. The forces torched the protesters' tents and arrested dozens of them, activists reported. Activists said the military police attacked them with tear gas, rocks, and water cannons. An unknown number of people were injured in the clashes. Military police sealed off the Abbassiya district after sending 20 armored military assault vehicles to enforce control and disperse any gatherings. Members of the military police were seen chasing after activists in the surrounding streets to the main square in Abbassiya, arresting an unknown number and injuring many others. A military helicopter was seen hovering over the area. State TV announced that military police broke into the Nour mosque, near the area of clashes, after reports that people were shooting at the military from its minaret. The TV announced the arrest of a number of suspects. They reported that a number of protesters were trying to break into the Ministry of Defense and that the army was trying to stave them off. Activists also reported that the army warned them against “breaking into the Ministry of Defense” through mega phones saying, “the ministry will broken into over our dead bodies.” The activists reported the military drew “chock lines” not to be crossed by the protesters. A curfew is expected to take place in Abbassiya shortly.
