CAIRO: Protests across the country escalated into bloody clashes between security forces in some governorates Monday night, sparking a wave of anger among youth groups who led mass protests on Tuesday chanting against military rule.
In Alexandria, clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in tens of injuries Monday, leading to mass protests on Tuesday to condemn police and army violence and demand an end to military rule.
Over 50,000 protesters demonstrated in front of the security directorate, while another march of 10,000 demonstrators headed to the Military’s Northern Base gather up to 50,000 people along the way.
In Qena, bloody clashes between protesters and police forces left an eight-month old baby girl dead due to tear gas inhalation. Hundreds were injured.
"We were a couple of hundred people Monday night in El-Sa’aa Square far away from the security directorate when Central Security Forces (CSF) stormed the square, violently beating the protesters and chasing them in side streets," Coordinator of Al-Karama Party in Qena Ahmed El-Badry told Daily News Egypt.
"That’s not all. CSF forces were deliberately throwing tear gas bombs into the balconies which resulted in the death of the baby girl," he added, saying that these actions provoked the residents who took to the streets in the thousands and clashed with police forces and thugs hired by remnants of the old regime.
"Today, CSF reached a consensus to completely withdraw from the streets and in return protesters promised not to attack the security directorate.
"Seven thousand protesters are now marching in the streets of Qena with no police presence," he added.
Activist Mohamed El-Badry from Mansoura told DNE that 10,000 protesters marched in Mansoura until they reached the governorate building chanting against military rule.
"Now 2,500 protesters are waiting in front of the governorate building awaiting the speech of Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and then a decision to hold a sit-in or not shall be taken," he added.
In Damietta, 2,000 protesters marched in the city demanding the ouster of the military and condemning police brutality.
Other clashes between protesters in Ismailia and Assuit between police forces and protesters left dozens injured.
