At least one dead as Egypt police storm Tahrir protest
Baku, November 20 (AZERTAC). At least one person was killed when Egyptian riot police stormed Cairo's Tahrir Square late Tuesday to disperse stone-throwing protesters, a health ministry official said.
Police backed by armoured vehicles fired tear gas and shots after clashes in the square to scatter protesters who had gathered to mark the anniversary of deadly 2011 demonstrations.
One man was killed when he was struck by birdshot during the clashes, head of emergency services Ahmed al-Ansary told AFP. It was not immediately clear if he was a protester.
The crowds were marking the anniversary of 2011 protests against the military, which took power between president Hosni Mubarak's overthrow and his now deposed successor Mohamed Morsi's election in June 2012.
Egypt is divided between Morsi's supporters and those of the military that overthrew him, but Tuesday's protesters accused both sides of betraying the goals of a 2011 uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak.
The clashes had erupted near the Arab League's headquarters at the corner of the iconic square, where millions had rallied to pressure Mubarak and more than two years later Morsi to resign.
Ansari said 16 people were injured in the violence, including a man with a birdshot wound to the eye.
The protesters covered their faces to block the tear gas.
"I am here to retaliate for my friends killed in Mohamed Mahmud. No one has brought them their rights," said one young protester who gave his name as Mohamed.
In 2011, at least 43 protesters were killed over several days of clashes with police in the Mohamed Mahmud street clashes just off Tahrir Square.
The November 19 clashes were the first serious revolt faced by the military junta that had taken charge after Mubarak's resignation in February 2011.
The interior ministry said in a statement it arrested 14 "rioters", including one in the possession of home made shotgun, and accused the protesters of trying to storm the Arab League's headquarters.
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