Egyptian Army Storms Protests

The Egyptian military burst into Cairo’s Tahrir Square early Saturday morning to violently dispel the tens of thousands who had gathered in one of the largest protests since former President Hosni Mubarak resigned. Witnesses reported gunfire, and said police beat the demonstrators with tasers and batons. The protesters said they stayed past the 2 a.m. curfew to protect the 20 military officers who had joined in the demonstration—despite specific orders to not participate. Witnesses said the soldiers and the protesters joined together, chanting “peaceful, peaceful” before security forces arrived and dispersed the demonstration.