Scuffles at Tahrir Square as army attempts clean-up

Sunday February 13, 2011 04:45:16 PM, IANS

Cairo: Scuffles broke out between Egyptian soldiers and protesters at Cairo's Tahrir Square Sunday after the military tried to remove activists from the epicentre of Egypt's uprising, eyewitnesses said.

Hundreds of protesters are in the square, as organisers say they will not leave until more of their demands, among them the installation of a civilian government, are met.

For 18 days Tahrir Square was the epicenter of the nationwide protests demanding the resignation of president Hosni Mubarak, 82, who ruled Egypt for almost 30 years. Mubarak stepped down Friday and handed the power to the country's Higher Military Council.

According to RIA Novosti, a spontaneous demonstration against Egyptian soldiers, who were trying to force a path for traffic to start flowing through Tahrir Square, broke out Sunday.

"The army is the basis of Egypt. Your objective is not to push us aside, but fulfill our demands. Otherwise, we will return," the protestors chanted as the military made efforts to disperse them.

The protesters are also demanding lifting of the state of emergency, dissolving parliament and constitutional amendments.

The Higher Council of the Armed Forces, now running the country, has promised to oversee a peaceful transition towards a democratically elected, civilian-led government.

It also said that the cabinet would remain in place until a new government was formed.

Over one million people celebrated in Tahrir, or Liberation, square after Mubarak stepped down Friday following 18 days of massive protests across the country.

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