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May 2nd, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Unknown attackers have killed at least 11 Egyptian protesters and wounded more than 160 on a fourth day of clashes in Cairo. Some reports give the number of dead as 20, and say army troops have been deployed to the area to end the violence.
Egypt’s hospital officials say that the death toll has risen to 11. Nine of them reportedly died of gunshot wounds to the head, while two people were stabbed to death.
Health Ministry officials, however, only confirmed nine people had been killed and 49 injured. It is not clear if any of the attackers were among the dead or if the victims were all protesters.
The army has reportedly deployed troops to the area to end the clashes. In the face of insurgency, Egypt’s military said it may transfer power on May 24, if the president is elected in the first round, state TV reports.
On Wednesday the attackers targeted several hundred protesters camped outside the Defense Ministry on Abbaseyah Square to demand an end of military rule.
They are protesting against Egypt’s ruling military body the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), and its disqualification of Islamist Salafi leader Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail from May’s presidential race.
Witnesses say the assailants came at the protesters at dawn with cement-based bombs, stones, Molotov cocktails, birdshot and teargas canisters.
Twitter users call the clashes a massacre: “Let the world know that a massacre happened last night in #Abassiya #Egypt #MOD,” writes @Amir_Elshenawy.
“Thugs have been attacking sit-in for 4 days in a row, using molotovs, shotguns, swords, bombs and live ammo. Now teargas being used,” @JonathanRashad says.
Following the clashes the leading Egyptian presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh has suspended campaign events over the treatment of protesters.
Meanwhile, some tweets suggest the protesters are also armed. “Okay this needs to be said. Some of us protesters have guns. Some are on the phone asking for guns,” @Psypherize admits.
Since Saturday, hundreds have protested the banning of Hazem Salah Abu-Ismail from next month’s presidential race.
The Islamist Salafi leader was disqualified because his mother held dual Egyptian-US citizenship, which violates the eligibility rules.
He had been seen as one of the front-runners.
His supporters have seen several similar attacks in the last four days, although army troops and police deployed in the area reportedly did nothing to intervene.
This makes activists believe the assailants operate with the blessing of the military or police, and that they may even be on their payroll.
“Plain clothed thugs shooting at protesters with live bullets and tear gas, for sure they are working for SCAF,” @Gsquare86 wrote when the attack began several hours ago.
“How can ‘thugs’ use teargas unless they are supplied by Interior Ministry. They are either CSF [Central Security Forces] conscripts or police-backed civilians,” @JonathanRashad says.
Pro-military state media say the assailants were local residents angered by the disruption caused by the protests.
The violence has ratcheted up tensions in Egypt as the crucial presidential election is scheduled in just three weeks.
The military generals dubbed as “Mubarak’s Junta” by pro-democracy activists took power after the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak 14 months ago.
Since then Egypt has seen a year of turmoil with nationwide protests and hundreds killed in the violence.
The SCAF headed by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi has promised to hand over power to a civilian administration by July 1.
However recent anti-military protests suggest many Egyptians do not believe Mubarak’s allies will give up their position.
Image from Twitter / @rawyarageh
Image from Twitter / @3mo_shehab
Video still
Video still
Islamist protesters and their supporters run during clashes with armed “thugs” after an attack on protesters late Tuesday night, in Cairo May 2, 2012. (Reuters / Asmaa Waguih)
Egyptian protesters beat a man who they accused of attacking them in the Abbassiya district in Cairo on May 2, 2012. (AFP Photo / STR)
Reuters / Asmaa Waguih
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