CAIRO: Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf responded tonight to the violent clashes that broke out between military police and demonstrators on the streets of downtown Cairo. The speech, however, offered no solutions. Sharaf said the sad events outside Maspiro, the Egyptian television and radio headquarters, tonight moved Egypt many steps backward. Sharaf said the most dangerous threat that can attack any country is tampering with national unity. The prime minister, Egypt's first since a popular uprising toppled the former government, expressed his sorrow for the events he described as “unjustified violence,” which lead to the deaths of both civilians and military soldiers. Sharaf said Egypt is exposed to a malicious plot, especially after the latest events. "Today's atmosphere allows the spread of sedition between the people and the [ruling] military council as well, but it's hard to say that what happened is sectarian strife," he added. Sharaf asked the Egyptian people to hold together and unite to tackle those “sordid” plots. At the end of his message, broadcast shortly after 2am local time, Sharaf expressed his confidence in the unity of Egyptians, warning them of sedition, and asking God to protect Egypt and its people. Arabic here here
