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Summary Thousands of Egyptians rallied in Cairo's Tahrir Square to denounce violence against protesters.
Tens of thousands of Egyptians rallied in Cairos Tahrir Square Friday to denounce violence against protesters, especially outraged by images of women protesters dragged by their hair, beaten and kicked by troops and demand an immediate end to military rule.The protesters held pictures of people killed in the deadly clashes that began last week and left at least 17 protesters killed. The scene of military troops beating and dragging women on the ground in one incident stripping one veiled protester half naked and stomping on her chest shook many in the largely conservative country, where the military in power since 1952 is highly revered.The violence has also drawn wide international criticism and increased pressure from activists for those responsible for the violence to be held accountable, including the senior military officials.The women of Egypt are a red line, the protesters in Tahrir chanted. We either die like them or we get them their rights, followed. Some protesters marched into the square with gags around their mouths, holding banners reading: Our dignity.The escalation has also driven a wedge between Egyptians many of whom are tiring of the protests and fear pressure on the military to step down would leave the country in serious turmoil.Thousands attended a rival rally in another part of the city, chanting the military and the people are one hand in support of the ruling generals. They denounced the beaten women, expressing a sentiment shared by some that these protesters brought the violence on themselves.You deserve the military boots, they chanted, addressing the women. They also railed against pro-democracy campaigners, singling out Mohamed ElBaradei, a leading supporter of the youth groups who has expressed readiness to run for president. Leave ElBaradei, a graffiti read on a wall near the rally.Last weeks violence erupted when military forces guarding the Cabinet building near the square tried to forcibly disperse a 3-week-old sit-in demanding that the ruling generals hand over power to a civilian authority.During the clashes over the past week, both sides threw firebombs, and several buildings were burned. A research center set up by Napoleon Bonaparte during Frances invasion in the late 18th century was badly damaged. Since the military took power, at least 100 people have been killed in such confrontations and in sectarian violence.
