Hundreds held after Egypt Defense Ministry clash

Armored Egyptian military vehicles block the road outside of the Ministry of Defense in Cairo, Egypt, Friday. AP Photo/Ahmed Hammad

CAIRO — Military prosecutors have detained over 300 Egyptian protesters following clashes outside the country’s Defense Ministry who face accusations including attacking troops and disrupting public order, lawyers said Saturday.

Lawyer Ragia Omran said that the roundup is one of the largest mass arrests to follow violent protests during the country’s troubled transition. The detainees, who include 18 women, are being interrogated by military prosecutors and could face military trials, she said.

The clashes broke out Friday during an attempt by protesters to march on the Defense Ministry. One soldier was reported killed and over 300 people injured by tear gas, rocks, and live fire. Security officials said 140 soldiers were injured.

The violence followed the first sustained large-scale protests near the ruling generals’ headquarters since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in an uprising last year. The military council had warned the demonstrators before the march that deadly force would be used against them if they approached the ministry. One warned protesters they would be approaching the “lion’s den.”

These protests have also been spearheaded by Islamists rather than members of the country’s left- and liberal-leaning revolutionary movements.

The detainees now face charges of attacking military troops, belonging to groups that aim to disrupt public order and being present in restricted military areas. Omran said the number of detainees could still rise.

Maj. Gen. Mukhtar al-Mullah, a member of the military council, warned late Friday in a televised statement that those involved in or instigating violence would be arrested. An overnight curfew was declared in the area.

On Saturday, the head of the military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi visited the injured troops and inspected the area of the clashes. State TV showed footage of the funeral of the slain soldier.

The tension in the area started earlier this week when protesters, predominantly supporters of an ultraconservative presidential candidate who was barred from running in the May 23-24 presidential election, held a sit-in outside the ministry.

Deadly clashes broke out when apparent supporters of the military rulers attacked the mostly Islamist crowd.

Nine people were killed in those clashes, drawing in antimilitary protesters from different revolutionary groups who call for the military to stick to its pledges to step down after the elections.

The violence cast a shadow over presidential elections, due to begin in three weeks.

Anger at the ruling military council, which took power after Mubarak’s ouster, has risen across the political spectrum. The generals are accused of steering a messy transition, using oppressive measures and maneuvering to maintain a degree of power even after the presidential election and handover of authority.

The Islamists have joined in after the disqualification of two heavyweight Islamists, Abu Ismail and Muslim Brotherhood chief strategist Khairat el-Shater, whose group has been frustrated that its domination of parliament – where it holds nearly half the seats – has not translated into political power.

The military still has the support of many members of the public who are critical of the disruptions caused by street protests or who believe that it provides strong government.

The generals renewed this week their pledge to hand over power as soon as a president is elected.