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    February 05, 2012

Egypt Violence Enters 4th Day

   VOA News
   A protester runs from tear gas during clashes with security forces near
   the Interior Ministry in Cairo February 5, 2012.
   Photo: Reuters
   A protester runs from tear gas during clashes with security forces near
   the Interior Ministry in Cairo February 5, 2012.

   Protesters and police in Egypt clashed Sunday for a fourth straight day
   in Cairo. Security personnel were trying to keep protesters away from
   government buildings in the capital.
   The protesters are calling for the ruling military council to surrender
   power to a civilian government.
   Officials say at least 12 people have died and 2,500 others have been
   wounded since violence broke out Thursday.
   The violence was sparked by anger at the failure of Egyptian security
   forces to prevent a melee and stampede after a soccer match Wednesday
   in the city of Port Said that killed 74 people.
   On Saturday, police in Cairo fired tear gas and birdshot at
   demonstrators, who were chanting, yelling and throwing stones near the
   heavily guarded Interior Ministry building. Across the street, the Tax
   Ministry building was in flames. Ambulances and volunteers carried the
   wounded away from the fighting through streets littered with debris.
   On Friday, the sound of gunfire, tear gas canisters and rocks smashing
   against police shields filled the air in and around Cairo's historic
   Tahrir Square following evening prayers.
   Thousands of Egyptians also took to the streets in Alexandria and the
   port city of Suez.
   Police have arrested 47 suspects for the football match mayhem. The
   military council's Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi declared three days of
   national mourning and vowed to find those responsible.
   Egypt's military-appointed prime minister also said the government has
   fired the board of Egypt's soccer federation and suspended Port Said's
   governor and security chiefs.
   Lawmakers in Egypt's newly empowered parliament blamed police inaction
   for the tragedy and voted to conduct an investigation.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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