CAIRO: Egyptian activists posted on social networking websites that police and military forces' campaign on Egyptian cafes Thursday night was targeted at Egyptian activists gathering to discuss the country's affairs. Egyptian Central Security and military police undertook a campaign to close cafes on Talaat Harb Street and Bourse Street near Tahrir Square Thursday. Egyptian youth immediately created pages on the social networking website Facebook that condemned the campaign on Egyptian cafes, under names like “We are all Bourse Café,” “Bourse café is a forbidden area,” and “Down with military rule.” Fans watching a football match between Egyptian clubs Al-Ahly and Enby opposed the campaign and asked security forces to end it. Fans clashed with security forces during the campaign. Central Security Forces closed all cafes surrounding Tahrir. Hundreds of young protestors demonstrated against the emergency law as a response to the security campaign. Armored vehicles arrived at Talaat Harb Square, the site of the protests. Activists gathered outside of cafes and marched around downtown Cairo. Military police made a human barricade to block the march after a group of military armored vehicles carrying soldiers with shields. An hour later, the electricity was cut off in Talaat Harb Square and Bourse Street, after which protestors dissipated.
