Muslim Brotherhood boycotts Tahrir Square today

Egypt's civilian Cabinet has offered to resign after three days of violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Tahrir Square, but the action failed to satisfy protesters deeply frustrated with the new military rulers.           

Throughout the day, young protesters demanding the military hand over power to a civilian government fought with black-clad police, hurling stones and firebombs and throwing back the tear gas canisters being fired by police into the square, which was the epicenter of the movement that ousted authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak.  

By midnight, tens of thousands of protesters were in the huge downtown square.  

The clashes have deepened the disarray among Egypt's political ranks, with the powerful Muslim Brotherhood balking at joining in the demonstrations, fearing that turmoil will disrupt elections next week that the Islamists expect to dominate.  

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party vowed not to participate "in any sit-in or protest that may lead to more confrontation," Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reported on Tuesday.  

It will instead "strive along with other parties to abort the sedition that the interior ministry has instigated in the country."  

33 died in clashes in Tahrir square over the previous three days between police and protesters angry over continued military rule in Egypt.About 5,000 to 7,000 protesters were in Tahrir Square for most of the day but the number rose to around 30,000 after nightfall  nowhere near filling it but displaying the strength of the movement despite the military's tireless campaign to marginalize the youths who drove Mubarak from office.