الرئيسية
Thousands turned out for rival protests in Cairo on Friday, exposing
the widening rifts among Egyptians over the ruling military's handling
of transition from Hosni Mubarak's rule.
Crowds gathered in Tahrir
Square to denounce the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF),
expressing their fury over footage of soldiers beating female protesters
during deadly clashes that sparked international outrage.
Thousands
more anti-military protesters turned out in the Mediterranean city of
Alexandria and the canal city of Suez to demand the ruling generals, who
took power when a popular uprising ousted Mubarak in February,
immediately hand power to civilian rule.
Nearly two months of
clashes between protesters and soldiers have left more than 60 people
dead and overshadowed the first parliamentary elections since Mubarak's
downfall.
The violence, particularly the beating of women, has
piled pressure on the SCAF, as liberals and Islamists facing off in the
polls condemned the military's handling of protests.
"Women are a
red line!" some protesters shouted in Tahrir Square as others chanted
against Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of the ruling SCAF and
Mubarak's longtime defence minister.
Sheikh Hisham Attiya, the
imam leading the Muslim noon prayers in the square, called for an
independent panel to investigate the deaths and prosecute those
responsible.
Protesters accusing the military of using Mubarak-era
methods to stifle dissent have launched a campaign calling for
presidential elections to be held on January 25, one year after the
launch of protests that brought down the veteran strongman.
"The
military council is an extension of the old regime; it has the same
mentality and uses the same tactics," said protester Mohammed Farrag,
31.
The SCAF denies ordering the use of force against protesters
but has apologised to the women of Egypt for "any transgressions" after
several shocking videos have surfaced showing brutality against
protesters.
"If they think beating women up is going to silence the protesters, they are wrong," said one woman, Mona Ahmed.
Videos
posted on social networking sites over the past week show soldiers
savagely beating women with truncheons or throwing them to the ground.
In
one instance, which drew worldwide attention, a veiled woman was thrown
down, her top ripped away to expose her bra and a soldier kicked her in
the chest.
The beatings sparked a backlash, with thousands of
women marching through Tahrir Square on Tuesday in protest against the
military junta.
London-based watchdog Amnesty International called on the SCAF to uphold the right to peaceful demonstration.
"The
shockingly violent scenes of recent days must not be repeated," said
Philip Luther, Amnesty International's interim director for the Middle
East and North Africa.
"Egypt's military authorities must ensure
protesters are allowed to exercise their right to freedom of expression
peacefully, without fear of attack. The authorities are responsible for
the safety of those protesting," he said.
the widening rifts among Egyptians over the ruling military's handling
of transition from Hosni Mubarak's rule.
Crowds gathered in Tahrir
Square to denounce the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF),
expressing their fury over footage of soldiers beating female protesters
during deadly clashes that sparked international outrage.
Thousands
more anti-military protesters turned out in the Mediterranean city of
Alexandria and the canal city of Suez to demand the ruling generals, who
took power when a popular uprising ousted Mubarak in February,
immediately hand power to civilian rule.
Nearly two months of
clashes between protesters and soldiers have left more than 60 people
dead and overshadowed the first parliamentary elections since Mubarak's
downfall.
The violence, particularly the beating of women, has
piled pressure on the SCAF, as liberals and Islamists facing off in the
polls condemned the military's handling of protests.
"Women are a
red line!" some protesters shouted in Tahrir Square as others chanted
against Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of the ruling SCAF and
Mubarak's longtime defence minister.
Sheikh Hisham Attiya, the
imam leading the Muslim noon prayers in the square, called for an
independent panel to investigate the deaths and prosecute those
responsible.
Protesters accusing the military of using Mubarak-era
methods to stifle dissent have launched a campaign calling for
presidential elections to be held on January 25, one year after the
launch of protests that brought down the veteran strongman.
"The
military council is an extension of the old regime; it has the same
mentality and uses the same tactics," said protester Mohammed Farrag,
31.
The SCAF denies ordering the use of force against protesters
but has apologised to the women of Egypt for "any transgressions" after
several shocking videos have surfaced showing brutality against
protesters.
"If they think beating women up is going to silence the protesters, they are wrong," said one woman, Mona Ahmed.
Videos
posted on social networking sites over the past week show soldiers
savagely beating women with truncheons or throwing them to the ground.
In
one instance, which drew worldwide attention, a veiled woman was thrown
down, her top ripped away to expose her bra and a soldier kicked her in
the chest.
The beatings sparked a backlash, with thousands of
women marching through Tahrir Square on Tuesday in protest against the
military junta.
London-based watchdog Amnesty International called on the SCAF to uphold the right to peaceful demonstration.
"The
shockingly violent scenes of recent days must not be repeated," said
Philip Luther, Amnesty International's interim director for the Middle
East and North Africa.
"Egypt's military authorities must ensure
protesters are allowed to exercise their right to freedom of expression
peacefully, without fear of attack. The authorities are responsible for
the safety of those protesting," he said.