Urging the country’s military ruler to engage in dialogue with civilian forces, Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei said on Saturday that trust between the Egyptian people and the armed forces is a “red line.”
Military police on clashed with protesters who staged a peaceful sit-in in Cairo's Tahrir Square at around 3 am on Saturday, following a mass protest on Friday that called for the trial of ex-president Hosni Mubarak, his family members and other former officials. At least one person was killed and scores injured.
The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) ordered the arrest of businessman and billionaire Ibrahim Kamel, who was close to Mubarak, and his assistants for alleged involvement in thuggery on Friday.
In its 34th message on Facebook, the SCAF described Kamel and his assistants as “vestiges of the former regime and the National Democratic Party”. It said it will continue to go after the vestiges of the ousted regime, protect the country and achieve the ambitions of the nation.
Meanwhile, on his Twitter account, ElBaradei described the clashes in Tahrir as heartbreaking, adding that “continued trust between army and people is vital to national unity.”
“Dialogue is the only option. Road to stability: quick responses to legitimate demands, power sharing with civilians during transition, clear road map, and a comprehensive national dialogue about the state’s foundations,” ElBaradei added.
The 6th April Movement, meanwhile, held the SCAF responsible for the violence. In a statement, the movement said it followed the developments in Tahrir with great concern after the military police, the special forces and central security forces attacked the peaceful a sit-in held in solidarity with “a number of army officers who joined the protest”.
Eyewitnesses said the alleged army officers who joined were arrested by the military police.
The SCAF said in a statement that elements from the Interior Ministry dispersed the protesters who stayed beyond the curfew, including people in military uniform. The statement said the Armed Forces will not allow acts that may harm the interests of the country and its people and will strictly implement the law.
