Clashes resume in Tahrir Square, 3 killed

Hundreds of Egyptian soldiers in riot gear swept through Cairo's Tahrir Square early Monday and opened fire on protesters demanding an immediate end to military rule. The Health Ministry said at least three people were killed, bringing the death toll for four days of clashes to 14.   

Violence has been raging in Cairo since Friday, when military forces guarding the Cabinet building near Tahrir Square heavily cracked down on a 3-week-old sit-in to demand Egypt's ruling generals immediately hand power to a civilian authority.                 

The pro-democracy protesters have decried the military's heavy-handed crackdown. Activists have flooded social network sites and other media with photos and video of troops beating and attacking protesters.       

A member of the ruling military council on Monday defended the use of force against protesters, arguing that the events since Friday amounted to what he called an attempt to "topple the state." He harshly criticized the media's coverage of the violence.     

The military council took power 10 months ago after the popular uprising that forced longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak to step down.      

The military has routinely denied the use of excessive force by its troops against protesters, including clashes last month that left more than 40 people killed. Its denials have been coupled with promises of investigations whose results have yet to be announced.

AP