Israel Matzav

Uh oh... Egyptian army fires warning shots at Tahrir protesters

There's a report that the army has fired warning shots at protesters gathering in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Witnesses said that Egyptian Army forces have begun firing warning shots into the air in order to ward off protestors from Tahrir Square. Throughout the night, large crowds of Egyptians celebrated the departure of Hosni Mubarak from Cairo, and on Sunday the army began to disperse the crowds. However, many refused to leave, and during the morning hours large numbers of people joined those already in the square. Press reports quoted protest organizers as saying that they would remain until the army, which is now in charge, published a specific timetable on when elections would be held and how a transfer of power to civilian rulers would take place.

Witnesses said that there has been tension between groups of soldiers and protestors, with soldiers pushing protestors and trying to herd them out of the square, and protestors pushing back and attempting to remain in place.

Hmmm.

Israel Radio reports at 1:00 our time (a few moments ago) that the shots were fired in warning at a police demonstration at the Interior Ministry and not at Tahrir where the army continues to try to move the protesters out. Earlier today, Israel Radio reported that the people left in Tahrir were Egyptians from outside Cairo who were looking for the government to pay their way home.

Labels: Cairo demonstrations, Egyptian army, Egyptian regime change, Tahrir Square

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:04 PM