Chaos erupts as Egyptian Prez Mubarak supporters, opponents clash
Chaos erupts as Egyptian Prezu00a0Mubarak supporters, opponents clash
Thousands of supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak attacked anti-government forces in Tahrir Square yesterday, some charging the demonstrators atop camels and horses in an attempt to break up their defiant challenge.
A supporter of President Mubarek rides a camel through the melee during a clash between pro-Mubarek and anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square, Cairo yesterday
The dramatic descent into violence marked an abrupt change of atmosphere after days of raucous but peaceful demonstrations that had more closely resembled a giant block party.
Pro-Mubarak forces, emboldened by the president's vow the day before to serve out his term through the autumn, pushed their way into the square through side streets, wielding clubs and horse whips against cordons of protesters who abandoned their peaceful posture to meet the attackers with hurled stones and chunks of concrete.
"In spirit and blood we want you, Mubarak," the presidents' supporters chanted. "You are our president."
Demonstrators tossed Molotov cocktails, igniting small fires and scattering opponents.
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Army forces deployed at the historic square, which had previously shown restraint, turned water cannon on the crowd to quell the confrontation.
The two sides surged back and forth for more than an hour, with at least a dozen of the pro-Mubarak Egyptians injured by the flying stones.
At least two were carried away unconscious. One man staggered off with blood running down his face after apparently being hit by a rock. Other men brandished wooden clubs and glass bottles.
As rival groups threw rocks and bottles back and forth, terrified bystanders huddled in doorways around the periphery of the square.
At one point, the anti-government demonstrators attacked one of the men on horseback, pulling him down to the street and pummeling him.
"We're not leaving. We'll sit under the tanks if the army tries to stop us," said Omar Adli, an anti-Mubarak demonstrator.
Journalists attacked
Journalists covering the scene on the ground found themselves the targets of violence by demonstrators chanting slogans. The targeting of reporters came as Internet access was restored.
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