Egypt’s military-led government Tuesday denied using violence against protesters and said the resignation of the country’s Cabinet has been accepted, although members will remain until a new government is formed.
“We never fired one bullet against any Egyptian,” said Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi in a speech. “Our first goal from the start of the transitional phase was to restore security in the streets.” Tantawi spoke on the fourth straight day of protests and clashes in Cairo and beyond, in which 30 people have died, and about 1,950 have been injured, the Health Ministry said.
Egypt’s Interior Ministry said Monday that 102 officers and conscripts have been injured, with wounds ranging from gunshots to burns from Molotov cocktails. One officer was shot in the head. The nation’s Cabinet offered to resign Monday, with one minister citing concern over the violence in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Tantawi said that resignation is accepted, but the current government will remain as a caretaker government until a new prime minister is named to form a new government.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces began leading the country after protesters ousted former President Hosni Mubarak in February. Tantawi did not announce any changes to the Supreme Council’s role.
Full Article: Military leader: Egyptian elections will be held on time – CNN.com.
