Activists attacked in Tahrir Square as El Baradei confirms his candidacy

Nobel peace laureate pledges to run for President of Egypt on condition of real democratic reform Small groups of men armed with rocks and knives have attacked hundreds of pro-reform protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square ahead of a move by the the Egyptian army to eject the last campaigners from the centre of the uprising that drove President Mubarak from power. Reformists have continued to gather in Tahrir Square since Mubarak was toppled on Februay 11, though not as many as before. Activists have called for bigger participation to press demands for political reform. However, state television on Wednesday showed footage of hundreds of people in the square facing off and throwing rocks as protesters said they came under attack. “A group of gangsters attacked us with stones, they seemed to be wanting us to leave the square,” said Gamal Hussein, 60. Later in the day, army officers were seen removing protesters’ tents asking them to leave the square, according to witnesses. Amnesty International cited witnesses claiming that the army were beating up protesters, breaking up informal medical clinics and wiping out the memory cards of journalists attempting to record the events. At least two people were reported injured. Meanwhile the reformer and Nobel peace laureate Mohamed El Baradei confirmed that he would run in the Presidential elections this year, but only on the condition of real democratic reform, not the proposals currently being drawn up by the interim government. Speaking on a live talk show on Egypt’s ONTV channel, El Baradei said that he would vote against proposed constitutional reforms on 19 March, describing them as “superficial” and an “insult to the revolution.” He also called for parliamentary elections to be delayed. Current military rulers have said they want to hand over power six months after Mubarak is ousted, but El Baradei said that this would run the risk that the well organised Muslim Brotherhood would control the new parliament. “We are at a decisive period in Egypt’s history,” El Baradei told ONTV. “We shouldn’t rush. Everything should be on a solid basis.” El Baradei also expressed concerns that the current lack of security would hamper authorities’ ability to secure the elections or protect people going to vote. The attacks in Tahrir Square follow more violence earlier this week. Egyptian authorities confirmed that thirteen people were killed and 140 wounded in sectarian violence on Tuesday, and violence between Coptic Christians and Muslims broke out after an arson attack on a church south of Cairo on Saturday. Egypt Middle East Rowenna Davis guardian.co.uk

Posted by on March 10, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.