Scene at Tahrir Square earlier after police raid as protestors flood back in and overwhelm forces.
Al Jazeera Live Coverage
As the military joined riot police to battle protestors in Tahrir Square, burning all remaining tents and supplies and successfully clearing the area, thousands of Egyptians continue to rally in the square, the homebase for last spring's revolution which many are now calling a military coup d'etat.
The government has announced they will not yield power to the civilians, despite the will of the Egyptian people, whose presence in Tahrir and in other Egyptian cities over the past three days bears witness to their belief that their country is NOT ready for free elections. According to the government, elections will go on as planned eight days from today, despite growing opposition to SCARs refusal to relinquish control.
8 unmoving bodies in tahrir, pic i took 3 hours ago, just got to computer 2 upload. not sure how many dead vs. unconscious. corner of #tahrir sq & tahrir st. @anujucomet
Al Jazeera is reporting the police have retreated from the square to regroup. A mobile field hospital has been set up on the sidewalk. One doctor reported seeing three bodies, victims of suffocation by the excessive amounts of tear gas employed by riot police. About 20-30 injured people are arriving every half hour, from serious wounds which have caused bleeding. A citizen speaking to a reporter outside the makeshift volunteer hospital, says "Its mostly men but I have seen some women and children come in. It's a war zone really."
Three hours ago. Photo by Mohammed Elshamy
In solidarity, the crowd is now chanting in unison "The people demand the overthrow of the Supreme Council."
Earlier today, in the second day of violent confrontations, riot police and military troops once again entered the square with batons and tear gas, as well as rifles reportedly shooting real bullets covered in rubber. The troops set fires to remaining tents and supplies and for a time succeeded in clearning the square of protestors.
A young child stands in pocket of tear gas as Egyptian protestor carries flag during night of violence in Cairo. Photo by Mohammed Elshamy
Background
Tens of thousands of Egyptians returned to Tahrir Friday to protest allegations that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) intends to maintain control after elections.
SCAF, the military elite, took over control of the country after the Arab Spring Revolution nine months ago and has allegedly engaged in "numerous crimes against human rights," according to Ahram Online. Just 11 days ago, in an an address to the Washington-based National Democratic Institute, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirmedthat the US has played a role in the MENA revolutions and described SCAF as necessary for "the establishment of stability and continuity in Egypt.
In confrontations earlier today, protestors rallied at various outposts in Cairo and marched back to face the military assembled in Tahrir, pushing back the military with chants of "peaceful, peaceful" as they reentered the square. As the hour grew later, thousands more joined the crows in the square. Cars on the bridge passing the Egyptian Museum and driving by the Square stopped, their occupants abandoing their vehicles and coming on foot to join the protests.
Informed sources report that presidential candidate Bothina Kamel was arrested by police.
A recent tweet announced that the forces are using "a different kind of gas here. Everyone ran, worst case of blindness and suffocation i've ever encountered."
For background on events since early this morning, see WarZONE @ Tahrir 2nd Day