Soldiers storm square to attack protesters

Egypt's political crisis, which has followed the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak, took a dangerous new turn yesterday as soldiers armed with clubs and rifles stormed protesters occupying Cairo's Tahrir Square in a pre-dawn raid, killing at least two.

The demonstrators, angry at the slow progress of reform since the country's 18-day revolution this year, had been demanding the trial of Mubarak, his son Gamal and close associates, and an immediate transition from military to civilian rule.

The rally revealed the increasing impatience and mistrust that many Egyptians feel towards the military, which took over when Mubarak was forced out of office on February 11. Some protesters accuse the top brass of protecting the former leader.

Witnesses described hundreds of troops, firing rubber bullets, charging into the square to clear it.

The assault appears to have been triggered by the decision of several dozen Egyptian soldiers on Saturday to defy orders and join a protest in the square to call for the removal of Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, who is titular head of the country.

"The people want the fall of the field marshal," said protesters, in a variation on the chant that has become famous across the Middle East.

In the aftermath of the assault, as security forces retreated, witnesses described an army officer leading slogans against Tantawi, while anti-army graffiti appeared on barricades.

Tamer El Said, an Egyptian film-maker who was in the square, described the scene.

"There was a huge demonstration that started. There were some military officers who joined it who were dissatisfied with what the supreme military council was doing. There were between 15 and 20 of them.

"Obviously it was really dangerous for them so the other protesters decided that they would protect them from being arrested by the military police.

"The security forces, who had surrounded the square, tried to enter it to try and catch these soldiers but the protesters would not allow them to come in. There were army and police and special forces.

"At [3am local time] they attacked the square. They were firing bullets in the air: at first rubber bullets and then live rounds. They pushed all the demonstrators out of the square.

"Then they started to chase the protesters into the surrounding streets and the downtown area using tear gas and bullets. I have a friend who was there who said there was continuous shooting."

At least seven of the soldiers were reported to have been snatched.

The military issued a statement afterwards blaming "outlaws" for rioting and violating the country's 2am to 5am curfew, and said no one was harmed or arrested.

- OBSERVER