CAIRO (AP) — Hundreds of angry women have marched in central Cairo to denounce the attacks on protesters there, and to call on Egypt's ruling generals to step down.
Much of their anger was focused on the case of a woman who was seen in video being dragged on the ground by soldiers, who strip her half-naked and stomp on her.
The images brought an angry response from the U.N.'s human rights chief, and some harsh words from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Speaking yesterday at Georgetown University, she said Egyptian security forces and extremists are specifically targeting women.
At least 14 people have been killed in five days of clashes as troops use guns, tear gas and batons to try to break up protests in a central Cairo square and the surrounding area.
According to a field doctor who witnessed the raid, troops and riot police again swept into the square today in their latest effort to force protesters out.
The military took power after the 18-day uprising that forced longtime leader Hosni Mubarak to step down 10 months ago. At first, the new rulers were welcomed by the protesters for helping to push Mubarak out. But now the generals are accused of standing in the way of reforms and committing human rights abuses.
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129-c-14-(Mark Lavie, AP Middle East correspondent)-"force against demonstrators"-AP Middle East Correspondent Mark Lavie in Cairo reports Egypt's military clashed again with pro-democracy demonstrators. (20 Dec 2011)
<<CUT *129 (12/20/11)>> 00:14 "force against demonstrators"
128-c-13-(Mark Lavie, AP Middle East correspondent)-"against unarmed demonstrators"-AP Middle East Correspondent Mark Lavie in Cairo reports Egypt's military has staged another predawn raid against protesters. (20 Dec 2011)
<<CUT *128 (12/20/11)>> 00:13 "against unarmed demonstrators"
APPHOTO AMR101: An Egyptian woman is reflected in a puddle full of stones used in recent clashes, at Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. Egyptian troops and riot police raided Cairo's Tahrir Square early on Tuesday in their latest attempt to evict protesters who want the ruling military to immediately step down. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) (20 Dec 2011)
<<APPHOTO AMR101 (12/20/11)>>
APPHOTO NN108: Egyptian protesters detain a suspected regime collaborator, third right,after he was beaten, at Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. Egyptian troops and riot police raided Cairo's Tahrir Square early on Tuesday in their latest attempt to evict protesters who want the ruling military to immediately step down. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (20 Dec 2011)
<<APPHOTO NN108 (12/20/11)>>
