Police fire teargas to drive protesters out of Cairo's Tahrir SquareNovember 20, 2013 - 09:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Egyptian police fired teargas to drive protesters out of Cairo's Tahrir Square on Tuesday, November 19 breaking up a demonstration commemorating 42 protesters killed two years ago while opposing the government that took power after Hosni Mubarak's downfall, according to Reuters. The rally was aimed against people the protesters felt had "betrayed" the revolution - Mubarak loyalists, the military council that ruled for 17 months after his fall and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood which won subsequent elections but was ousted by the military in July. But many in the crowd voiced their desire to overthrow what they called the new "military junta", the government installed by the army after removing Islamist President Mohamed Mursi. Several hundred riot police moved in shortly before midnight to clear the few dozen protesters still in Tahrir Square, a Reuters reporter said. Protesters threw rocks and fireworks but left the square shortly after the security forces moved in. A security official said the police decided to clear the square after protesters had tried to storm the headquarters of the Arab League. The authorities would allow them to remain in nearby streets, the official added. "Down with the military regime," the protesters chanted earlier in the day, a common refrain during the period of army-led government that followed Mubarak's downfall. Supporters of army chief General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who promised stability and elections when he overthrew Mursi in July, also showed up at Tahrir but were chased away by activists. The protesters said the goals of the uprising that toppled Mubarak in 2011 had not been met and accused the security forces of acting with impunity in the intervening two years. Security forces have killed hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members since Mursi was toppled. Thousands have been arrested and the group has been outlawed. "I am not for the Brotherhood. But I sympathize with them because of what happened at Rabaa," said high school student Salma, referring to a pro-Mursi protest camp in Cairo that was crushed by security forces in August. "It was a horrible massacre. There was more freedom under Mursi." Photo:voanews.com Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Welcome to CaseKey 2024. Byblos Bank Armenia firmly stands by future innovators Strategic business cases, invaluable experience, innovative approaches and more than 25 events are in store for the participants of CaseKey 2024. Macron honors Charles Aznavour on 100th anniversary French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to the memory of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Blinken says U.S. reviewing a number of aid requests from Armenia He said the U.S. is reviewing the requests to determine what more it can do to increase its assistance to Armenia. At least 2 CSTO members participated in preparing 44-day war against Armenia – PM Nikol Pashinyan has declared that at least two CSTO member countries participated in preparations for the 44-day war against Armenia. |