CAIRO, (Reuters) – At least 10 people died as police backed by the army used batons and teargas yesterday to charge protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square demanding Egypt’s ruling generals hand over power, in some of the worst violence since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
With little more than a week to go before a parliamentary election that starts the process of transition, state television reported the deaths yesterday, taking the total toll since violence erupted on Saturday to 12. It said there were 214 wounded yesternday.
“The people want the toppling of the regime,” thousands of protesters chanted before and after the charge by police backed by military officers who had stayed on the sidelines till then.
The demonstrators accuse the army of seeking to retain power from behind scenes as it oversees the transition, which could see the military remain in control until presidential elections which may not happen until late 2012 or early 2013.
Generals deny any such intention and the cabinet reiterated on Sunday that violence would not delay the staggered parliamentary election, voting for which starts on Nov. 28.
The security forces, who moved in as darkness fell, beat some protesters with batons. One group of demonstrators formed a line and bowed in the traditional Muslim prayer, television images showed. Most held their line as the police moved in.
“The army sent soldiers to Tahrir to help state security disperse the protesters. They are beating us hard,” said Ragab Shemiekhy, who has been in Tahrir throughout the latest protest.
A Reuters witness saw the dead body of a 28-year-old man on Sunday evening in a makeshift clinic on the edge of Tahrir Square. It was not clear how he had died or if the death was one of those reported by medical sources.
Demonstrators held up spent shotgun cartridges, bullet casings and empty teargas canisters. Activists carried one protester’s corpse wrapped in a blanket around Tahrir. “We will sacrifice our blood and souls for you, martyr,” they chanted.
Army police detained dozens of people, a witness said. After initially fleeing, protesters poured back into the square.
