Egyptian Army on defense over violent crackdowns
Reuters
2011-12-20
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Despite the death of 13 protesters and the injury of hundreds of others, Egypt's military denies its soldiers used excessive force in trying to suppress a demonstration outside of the country's parliament building.
SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) MEMBER OF EGYPT'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ARMED FORCES, MAJOR-GENERAL ADEL EMARA, SAYING:
"First, I would like to indicate that the forces that are there to protect the Parliament and Upper House buildings from the inside did not confront the protesters in any way from the beginning of the protest in front of the cabinet building, in spite of attempts to create friction and to provoke these forces. And these heroes have tolerated what no person could bear, not out of weakness, but out of awareness and self-discipline to prevent any opportunity for those who wish evil upon Egypt."
The violence has marred the second round of voting in landmark parliamentary elections.
SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) MEMBER OF EGYPT'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ARMED FORCES, MAJOR-GENERAL ADEL EMARA, SAYING:
"It is not possible that those who are destroying the nation are demonstrators, or that they are amongst the January 25th youth, who are pure. It is not possible that the young people that sacrificed their souls are the same people that I will show you now, or those that raise their hands to burn Egypt's heritage or burn the Parliament. It is not possible that they are the pure, young people, the hope of Egypt and the wealth of the nation."
Some members of the opposition do not buy it.
SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE PARTY, MOHAMED EL-BELTAGY, SAYING:
"This time, the Military Council is involved in these clashes. The police soldiers are not the only side that battled against the protesters. There are lots of bodies, but we want the body of the murderer."
The high casualties from the crackdown have led to international condemnation.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the force used against the demonstrators that has widened a rift among Egyptians over the role of the army.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) MEMBER OF EGYPT'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ARMED FORCES, MAJOR-GENERAL ADEL EMARA, SAYING:
"First, I would like to indicate that the forces that are there to protect the Parliament and Upper House buildings from the inside did not confront the protesters in any way from the beginning of the protest in front of the cabinet building, in spite of attempts to create friction and to provoke these forces. And these heroes have tolerated what no person could bear, not out of weakness, but out of awareness and self-discipline to prevent any opportunity for those who wish evil upon Egypt."
The violence has marred the second round of voting in landmark parliamentary elections.
SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) MEMBER OF EGYPT'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ARMED FORCES, MAJOR-GENERAL ADEL EMARA, SAYING:
"It is not possible that those who are destroying the nation are demonstrators, or that they are amongst the January 25th youth, who are pure. It is not possible that the young people that sacrificed their souls are the same people that I will show you now, or those that raise their hands to burn Egypt's heritage or burn the Parliament. It is not possible that they are the pure, young people, the hope of Egypt and the wealth of the nation."
Some members of the opposition do not buy it.
SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE PARTY, MOHAMED EL-BELTAGY, SAYING:
"This time, the Military Council is involved in these clashes. The police soldiers are not the only side that battled against the protesters. There are lots of bodies, but we want the body of the murderer."
The high casualties from the crackdown have led to international condemnation.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the force used against the demonstrators that has widened a rift among Egyptians over the role of the army.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
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