Scores hurt in violent clashes in Egyptian capital

Scores of people were injured in Cairo on Saturday when thousands of demonstrators fought opponents with stones on their march to the Defense Ministry to urge their military rulers to speed up reforms.

According to press reports, the protesters marching to the headquarters of Egypt’s military rulers have been attacked by groups of men wielding knives and sticks, triggering street clashes that have left more than 100 people injured.

Witnesses said most of the injuries occurred when civilians believed to be thugs hurled barrages of stones and firebombs at protesters, who fought back with stones torn up from pavements. "The people want to bring down the field marshal," they chanted as they headed for the ministry, snarling traffic.

Military police, armed with Tasers and batons, fired in the air to stop the demonstrators from approaching the Defense Ministry. A witness said tear gas fumes were wafting outside the area as military helicopters circled overhead.

Saturday's clashes came as tensions mount between the military council that took control of the country after a popular uprising forced President Hosni Mubarak from office and activists who want them to move faster in bringing former regime officials to justice and setting a date for the transition to civilian rule.

The military has appeared impatient with the pressure, accusing activists of treason, warning protesters against "harming national interests" and calling on "honorable" Egyptians to confront actions that disrupt a return to normal life.

The identity of the attackers could not immediately be determined. Similar groups of men have tried to break up other rallies, and Mubarak's regime often used hired civilians to attack protesters. Some witnesses said they might have been residents or shopkeepers angry at the loss of business as a result of the protests. Others said local residents threw water bottles to the protesters and helped them reach safety.

The violence broke out following a televised speech commemorating the 1952 coup by Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, head of the ruling military council, who attempted to diffuse tensions by praising young people who led the uprising that toppled Mubarak. In his speech, Tantawi promised to push ahead with elections to transform the Arab world's most populous nation into a democracy.