Egypt’s Military Declares New Overnight Curfew, Orders Arrest of 300

Egypt’s military declares new overnight curfew, orders arrest of 300

Al Arabiya News, 05 May 2012

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/05/05/212320.html

Egypt’s army imposed an overnight curfew around the defense ministry in Cairo on Friday after protesters clashed with troops there during demonstrations against the country’s military rule. (Reuters)

By Al Arabiya With Agencies

Egypt’s ruling military council said it will impose an overnight curfew on Saturday in the defense ministry district for a second successive night and ordered 300 people detained over deadly clashes between troops and anti-military protesters in Cairo.

The curfew will go into effect between 21:00 GMT on Saturday and 04:00 GMT on Sunday, the official said.
Military prosecutors, meanwhile, said the 300, including nine journalists, “will be held for 15 days pending investigation” into clashes in the Abbassiya district on Friday that left two people including a soldier dead and at least 300 injured.

A security official confirmed the number and said more arrests could be made on Saturday.

The military prosecution said it would release all women detained in Friday’s clashes.

“The military judiciary has decided to release all the women,” he said. He did not say how many women were detained, but activists put the number at between 14 and 17.

After hours of questioning overnight, those held were accused of assaulting army officers and soldiers, assembling in a military zone and preventing members of the armed forces from carrying out their work, the source said.

They all denied the charges.

Friday saw fierce clashes between anti-military protesters and troops near the defense ministry.

The clashes erupted just three weeks ahead of Egypt’s first presidential elections since a popular uprising ousted president Hosni Mubarak last year.