Protesters briefly clashed with security forces in front of the Ettehadiya Presidential Palace on Friday afternoon after the Armed Forces removed the concrete wall that has blocked Merghany Street since the recent wave of protests against the 22 November Constitutional Declaration.
Protesters objected to opening the street because it protected them against possible attacks, they told Al-Masry Al-Youm. Some protesters attempted to replace the concrete wall with barbed wire and iron bars. Security forces attempted to halt these attempts and arrested some of the protesters, leading to violent clashes.
The detainees were released after negotiations between the police and protesters. Police promised not to break up the sit-in, which is now in its 11th day. The demonstrators then set up barbed wire closing the street and the metro line. They threatened to block all the streets surrounding the palace if the police made further arrests.
"We have not received orders to break up the sit-in, and we have no intention to do so," one of the security forces told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
