Ahead of planned mass protests on the first anniversary of the start of the 25 January revolution, Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri met on Saturday with Central Security Forces (CSF) police generals to discuss plans to deal with the protests.
Ganzouri and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim “inspected the CSF operations room in Cairo and listened to a briefing on the tasks carried out by the police officers in the room,” said a statement released on Saturday by the Interior Ministry.
According to the statement, the prime minister called on the CSF to abide by the law while carrying out their duties, to exercise self-restraint to the maximum degree, and to focus on negotiation as a means to deal with people and protests, within the framework of respecting freedom of expression and human rights.
The CSF is the Interior Ministry's largest department. Commentators say that it has more than 300,000 police officers and soldiers. Their duties range from securing governmental buildings and embassies to dealing with riots.
The CSF is accused of killing most of the nearly 850 people who died during 18 days of protests that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak.
Former Police General Ahmed Ramzi, then head of the CSF, is among the accused in Mubarak’s trial. His is charged with ordering the shooting of protestors.
In his meeting with the riot control generals, Ganzouri reportedly stressed the importance of changing the mindset of police officers and the philosophy with which they work as one of the effects of the revolution.
"The Interior Ministry is one of the most important elements of the state system and an active factor that helps develop the country. There is a growing confidence in all classes and groups of people in the ability of police to restore security and stability," said the statement.
