A fact-finding report on clashes that injured 1,100 people last week was released today. In the report, the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) recommended that the standards of fair trials should not be breached. It emphasized that all those suspected of killing demonstrators during the revolution must be tried as soon as possible. The NCHR also recommended the acceleration of settlements regarding compensation to the victims' families. It said priority much be given to treat the wounded and to transfer critical cases abroad to receive treatment at the expense of the state. The committee said that last week's clashes occurred because of the trials of those accused of killing demonstrators are progressing slowly, and because the martyrs' families feel that the state is indifferent to their loss and suffering. The committee added that anxiety prevails because of the confusing political situation. Remnants of the formerly ruling regime seem eager to retain their positions, particularly after the court ruling to dissolve local councils, said the committee. Some groups want to take advantage of the lawlessness of the state and make sure that Egypt's police are unable to do their jobs in protecting the society. The committee's final report said police used excessive violence during last week's clashes. They used a lot of tear gas and many demonstrators suffocated from the fumes. They also arrested the wounded and detained them in unknown places. The committee also said there are many rumors circulating among the protesters, saying that there are people being detained inside the Ministry of Interior and that someone died of torture in one of the police stations, which only antagonized the demonstrators more. The committee included many members of the NCHR, including George Ishak, Amr Hamzawy, Hafez Abouseada and others.
