Egyptian Citizens Question Military's Actions

 Finalez Tahrir Audio Feature by IngyH

April 9 - Tahrir Square

LEAD-IN: Protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square claim the military fired live automatic rounds at them last Friday night after curfew. The Egyptian armed forces denied the accusations claiming that officers had not been armed with automatic weapons that night. A-U-C Radios' Ingy Hassieb reports.

Barbed wire and abandoned military vehicles sealed off Tahrir Square on Saturday April 9 after violent clashes between the Egyptian armed forces and protesters camped in the now world-renowned midan.

PROTESTER: After the curfew, while we were entering the square, they began firing at us from many different directions and they weren't firing towards the sky, they fired directly at us. (:13)

Demonstrators said they had no choice but to hold a sit-in in Tahrir Square after 25 defected officers sought protection within their ranks.

ABDELATTI (protester): Those 25 Egyptian military officers were sentenced to death by Tantawi. Four of them were executed, the rest managed to  flee. (:10)

Protesters said hundreds were injured in the previous night’s clashes and claimed they were transported to Ahmad Maher hospital for treatment. The hospital confirmed admitting only six individuals with minor injuries that same night.

NAT SOUND: "Al geish wal sha'ab eid wahda" (The army and the people are one hand)

April 9 - Tahrir Square

After the ousting of former president, Hosni Mubarak, the military's temporary control over the country was celebrated by millions of Egyptians.

Now two months later, citizens are beginning to question the military's allegiances.

M.ABDELATTI: At first we used to say the army and the people are one hand, but now we don't know who is going to help the people move the country forward to a state of peace and good, purify it from all the depravity that exists...as long as there is someone like Tantawi, loyal to the old regime and Hosni Mubarak, then the country will not get better. (:17)

SFX: Sout El Horreya - Wust al Balad

Another protest is set to take place next Friday, April 15, calling for Tantawi’s dismissal.

Ingy Hassieb, A-U-C Radio.  

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