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One killed, 71 injured in Tahrir square turmoil in Egypt

09 April 2011 22:20 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Egypt ’s Ministry of Health confirmed Saturday that one person was killed and 71 others were injured in the turmoil in central Cairo’s Tahrir Square earlier in the day, APA reports citing Xinhua.

According to official MENA news agency, the injured people have been treated immediately, and most of them have left the hospital except for three cases.

The ministry said the injuries were resulted from shooting or dyspnea during the "purification Friday" protest that called for immediate trial of former President Hosni Mubarak and his corrupt officials.

Protestors clashed with the guarding policemen of the museum, and hundreds of people intervened to stop the violence. The Egyptian Museum was closed as a precautionary measure due to the recent events and clashes in Tahrir square.

Thousands of Egyptian protestors returned to Tahrir Square Saturday morning, and some of them tried to set up tents inside the square. They called for the formation of a civil presidential council to manage the country in the transitional period until a new constitution is issued and the presidential and parliamentary elections are held.

The roads leading to the square were blocked with barriers and wires.

Local Almasry Elyoum website said the military tried to disperse protestors by force early Saturday, after protesters committed several acts of riots and overstayed the curfew hours from 2 a.m. (0000 GMT) to 5 a.m. (0300 GMT).

Amr Hamzawi, a professor of political science in the Cairo University, warned against those who tried to break the trust between the nation and the army, MENA reported.

He urged youths to be patient and wait for the results of investigations about the clashes before accusing the army of being involved in any attacks against the protestors.

In a statement issued Saturday morning, the armed forces praised the efforts of the security officers with the help of honest citizens to contain the clashes that erupted on Friday night, promising to take necessary measures and stand against those who tried to harm the security of the country.