CAIRO: The National Council of Human Rights (NCHR) demands judicial investigation of the attacks against April 6 Movement's peaceful march in Abbassiya. Investigations will be set up to find out who was responsible for the violence in the clashes and previously similar incidents in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez. The NCHR wants to investigate the identity of those involved in inciting violence and start questioning them. The NCHR warns of increase in splitting of the society and losing patience. It requests all parties to exercise restraint and extend bridges of discussion and trust. Relations must be developed between different parties and must help overcome pitfalls of the past. Since the revolutionary demands are legitimate, fair and expeditious trials must be set up involving the murder of revolutionary martyrs. A fact-finding committee was formed including the council member and head of complaints office, Mohsen Awad, among other legal researchers to review the location and investigate the incidents in Abaseya and Tahrir Squares, NCHR claimed in a statement today. NCHR has been collecting date and questioning witnesses, official statements from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, April 6 Movement, official statements and press analysis. Egypt's ruling military council said the Abbassiya clashes were attacks against the security and safety of peaceful protestors. Despite their political evaluation of Saturday's march and its aims, the military council stresses on the necessity of the authorities' commitment to guarantee every citizens' right to protest and expression of opinion, as long as it is peaceful. The statement reported the April 6 Movement's march and their supporters in Tahrir Square were heading the Ministry of Defense to chant their demands to the military council peacefully and without breaching security. The council mission received supporting evidence with photos and video clips stating groups of civilians and residents were waiting in Abbassiya Square before the arrival of the marching demonstrators. The marching demonstrators were ambushed by some of said civilians, from the roof of two buildings in Abbassiya Square. Piece of stones, wood and trash were used against the demonstrators, who were surprised by the planned ambush. Hundreds of protestors, residents and police officers were injured from the thrown stones, Molotov and gunshots. The protestors responded by throwing back the stones and tear gas bombs thrown at them. The protestors returned to Tahrir Square carrying the injured. The military didn't interfered to stop these attacks, by claims of “being neutral.” The council explained its concern with the military council statement no. 69 of accusing political movements “with private agendas.” Thus it accuses the April 6 Movement of driving a wedge and causing strife between the Egyptian citizens and the army.
