Egypt Security Forces Clear Tahrir Square as Ramadan Begins

by NowPublic Staff | August 1, 2011 at 05:53 am

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Tahrir Square Protest: Military Crackdown

The Egyptian army has cleared Tahrir Square, which was occupied by thousands of pro-democracy protesters since July 8.

Demonstrators re-occupied Tahrir Square to protest the military's handling of the transition of government. Tahrir Square was the epicenter of the popular uprising which, with the help of the military, toppled the decades-long rule of Hosni Mubarak.

Now the military is accused of dragging its heels in orchestrating a handover to a new civilian government. Egyptian citizens are demanding trials of police officers accused of killing civilians during the February protests, as well as economic reforms such as a minimum wage.

The military said that it forced demonstrators out of the square following complaints by local business-owners. According to witnesses, though, soldiers attacked protesters after they took shelter in a nearby mosque.

Ramadan Begins: Protest on Hold

Protesters of the April 6 Movement say that they are putting demonstrations on hold for the holy month of Ramadan, which began on August 1.