Overnight clashes in the Egyptian capital of Cairo have left over 1,000 people injured as the scuffles between security forces and protesters enter a second day.
New clashes broke out on Wednesday morning in central Cairo as riot police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters who demand the execution of the country's former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly.
Police in riot gear were deployed near the interior ministry building around the Tahrir Square, which was the scene on clashes on Tuesday as well, AFP reported.
The injuries range from tear gar induced respiratory problems to cuts and bruises from slinging stones, said Dr. Hisham Shiha, head of clinical medicine at the Ministry of Health. He added there were no serious injuries other than two people injured in the melee that took place near the Baloon Theatre in Cairo’s Agouza neighborhood at the beginning of the skirmishes.
He said most of the injured were members of the Central Security Forces and that there were no deaths so far.
Families of Egyptians killed during the country's historic revolution have also started an open-ended sit-in in front of the country's state TV building, calling on the interim government to bring murderers of their family members to justice.
The protesters are angry over the delays in the trial of Adly. The former interior minister and several other Egyptian officials are still being tried on charges of ordering the killing of protesters.
The protesters say they want the speedy prosecution of officials belonging to Egypt's former regime of the ousted Hosni Mubarak.
They also demanded the execution of al-Adly for ordering the killing of protesters during the revolution, which led to former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster on February 11.
Egyptian protesters say Mubarak and his associates must be tried for killing more than 800 protesters during the popular uprising.
Activists also demand the release of political prisoners and the disbandment of the military court.
Egyptians are still skeptical about a rapid transition towards democracy and civilian rule and maintain that demonstrations will continue until all their demands are met.