CAIRO: Egyptian activists who had gathered outside the High Court in downtown Cairo reported being assaulted by unknown “thugs” early on Wednesday morning. The activists, who are protesting the High Court's non-issuing of a decree to ban presidential finalist Ahmed Shafiq from taking part in the elections as he served as the last prime minister for now imprisoned former president Hosni Mubarak during the 18 days of mass protests that toppled his 30-year rule. The al-Azl law, a ruling that was approved a few months back by the ruling military council under great pressure from the public, states that top officials of the last regime and its deposed National Democratic Party (NDP) would be banned from participating in politics for 10 years. Yet Shafiq continues to make his push for the country's top job. Tens of thousands of Egyptians marched to Tahrir square on Tuesday evening calling for a retrial of the ministry of interior's top officials who were acquitted by a court in the killing of protesters during the 18 days of the uprising and to prevent Shafiq from running. A number of the activists decided to stay in the square to continue their pressure on the military council. Radio Misr, a pro-government station said that fights broke out between the staff of the court and the protesters and added that it was to fend off the protesters who “attempted to break into the court.” Protesters denied the breaking in attempts and reported on social media sites that they were attacked by pro-government “thugs.” No serious injuries were reported, yet the protesters said they plan to return and gather outside the court once again. A protest is also scheduled for later Wednesday afternoon on Qasr el-Nil Bridge in support of Khaled Said, a man from Alexandria who was killed by police in mid-2011 and largely sparked the beginning of unrest that led to the January uprising.
