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| Cairo's Tahrir Square reoccupied by defiant protesters | Cairo's Tahrir Square reoccupied by defiant protesters |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of Egyptian protesters have re-occupied Tahrir Square in the capital, Cairo, after a violent attempt by troops and police to evict them. | Thousands of Egyptian protesters have re-occupied Tahrir Square in the capital, Cairo, after a violent attempt by troops and police to evict them. |
| They returned less than an hour after the assault, chanting against Egypt's ruling military council. | They returned less than an hour after the assault, chanting against Egypt's ruling military council. |
| Demonstrators earlier fled as security forces fired tear gas and beat them with truncheons. At least 13 people have died this weekend, reports say. | |
| There were also clashes in other cities including Alexandria, Suez and Aswan. | There were also clashes in other cities including Alexandria, Suez and Aswan. |
| The demonstrators, some wearing gas masks, say they fear Egypt's military rulers are trying to retain their grip on power. | The demonstrators, some wearing gas masks, say they fear Egypt's military rulers are trying to retain their grip on power. |
| The violence comes a week before the country's first parliamentary elections since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in February. | The violence comes a week before the country's first parliamentary elections since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in February. |
| A total of 11 people were reportedly killed on Sunday and two on Saturday, according to medical sources. Health officials say as many as 900 have been injured, including at least 40 security personnel. | |
| Armoured vehicles | Armoured vehicles |
| I am on the fourth floor of an apartment overlooking Tahrir Square, just opposite the Egyptian Museum. There were relatively calm protests - there were maybe seven or eight thousand protesters in the square. | I am on the fourth floor of an apartment overlooking Tahrir Square, just opposite the Egyptian Museum. There were relatively calm protests - there were maybe seven or eight thousand protesters in the square. |
| Then suddenly at the front line where the police were up to that point, a group of military police started running into the protesters. | Then suddenly at the front line where the police were up to that point, a group of military police started running into the protesters. |
| I saw about 10 to 15 protesters covered in blood being beaten with batons. A lot of panic, a lot of screaming. The field hospital where we were earlier was overrun, so a lot of those injured people being pulled out arms and legs sort of lifted high up. | I saw about 10 to 15 protesters covered in blood being beaten with batons. A lot of panic, a lot of screaming. The field hospital where we were earlier was overrun, so a lot of those injured people being pulled out arms and legs sort of lifted high up. |
| Right now in front of me, the square is being filled with people again. There are running street battles. There are four to five different streets veering off from the apartment where I am and in each one the military are firing what looks like tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. | Right now in front of me, the square is being filled with people again. There are running street battles. There are four to five different streets veering off from the apartment where I am and in each one the military are firing what looks like tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. |
| We were told earlier by a doctor in the field hospital that they were finding live ammunition, that they were extracting it from some people's arms and legs. | We were told earlier by a doctor in the field hospital that they were finding live ammunition, that they were extracting it from some people's arms and legs. |
| I can see one man down in Tahrir Square, just below the apartment where I am who is being given CPR by a group of doctors who are being protected by the military. So in some cases, it looks like the military are trying to protect those injured people and in others they are firing tear gas and rubber bullets. | I can see one man down in Tahrir Square, just below the apartment where I am who is being given CPR by a group of doctors who are being protected by the military. So in some cases, it looks like the military are trying to protect those injured people and in others they are firing tear gas and rubber bullets. |
| A second day of violence began when stone-throwing protesters advanced from the square - focal point of February's uprising - towards the interior ministry. | A second day of violence began when stone-throwing protesters advanced from the square - focal point of February's uprising - towards the interior ministry. |
| Officers fired volleys of tear gas and drove the protesters back, before blocking the street leading to the ministry. | Officers fired volleys of tear gas and drove the protesters back, before blocking the street leading to the ministry. |
| Armoured personnel carriers brought in reinforcements as the security forces tried to gain the upper hand. | Armoured personnel carriers brought in reinforcements as the security forces tried to gain the upper hand. |
| Scores of soldiers and police poured into the square, beating protesters and dismantling a protest camp there. | Scores of soldiers and police poured into the square, beating protesters and dismantling a protest camp there. |
| But within an hour, protesters swarmed back into the square, usually one of Cairo's busiest traffic thoroughfares. | But within an hour, protesters swarmed back into the square, usually one of Cairo's busiest traffic thoroughfares. |
| The BBC's Helena Merriman at the scene says the atmosphere is tense, with moments of calm punctuated by outbreaks of panic and running. | |
| The edges of the square are thinning out but the road to the ministry of interior is full of protesters, she says. | The edges of the square are thinning out but the road to the ministry of interior is full of protesters, she says. |
| In recent weeks protesters - mostly Islamists and young activists - have been holding demonstrations against a draft constitution that they say would allow the military to retain too much power after a new civilian government is elected. | In recent weeks protesters - mostly Islamists and young activists - have been holding demonstrations against a draft constitution that they say would allow the military to retain too much power after a new civilian government is elected. |
| They have repeatedly tried to gain a foothold in Tahrir Square again, but until this weekend they had always been removed quickly by the police. | They have repeatedly tried to gain a foothold in Tahrir Square again, but until this weekend they had always been removed quickly by the police. |
| "The violence [on Saturday] showed us that Mubarak is still in power," one protester, Ahmed Hani, told the Associated Press news agency. | "The violence [on Saturday] showed us that Mubarak is still in power," one protester, Ahmed Hani, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| He said the leader of Egypt's military government, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, should resign. | He said the leader of Egypt's military government, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, should resign. |
| "We have a single demand: the marshal must step down and be replaced by a civilian council," he said. | |
| The latest violence is some of the worst in months between the Egyptian authorities and demonstrators. | The latest violence is some of the worst in months between the Egyptian authorities and demonstrators. |
| Parliamentary elections are due to begin on 28 November and take three months. | Parliamentary elections are due to begin on 28 November and take three months. |
| Earlier in November, Egypt's military rulers produced a draft document setting out principles for a new constitution. | Earlier in November, Egypt's military rulers produced a draft document setting out principles for a new constitution. |
| Under those guidelines, the military would be exempted from civilian oversight, as would its budget. | Under those guidelines, the military would be exempted from civilian oversight, as would its budget. |
| This has angered protesters who fear the gains they have made during the uprising could yet slip away as the military tries to retain some grip on power. | This has angered protesters who fear the gains they have made during the uprising could yet slip away as the military tries to retain some grip on power. |
| Are you in Cairo? Did you witness the clashes? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Cairo? Did you witness the clashes? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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