The Egyptian military's promise to speed up presidential elections did not prevent Cairo's Tahrir Square from witnessing yet another nightmarish groundhog day on Wednesday, as protesters demanding the immediate end of military rule battled with security forces for a six straight day in scenes that recalled the bloody uprising in February that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Nearly 40 people have died since Saturday in the worst outbreak of violence since the revolution, a spasm of popular anger that has spread to other Egyptian cities and threatens to delay parliamentary elections scheduled to begin next week. On Wednesday, as accusations swirled about Egyptian police using live ammunition and virulent forms of tear gas, U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay condemned the "excessive use of force" by security forces and called for an independent investigation (the Egyptian military has denied using nerve gas or live bullets). An attempt by soldiers, doctors, and clerics from Sunni Islam's Al-Azhar University to bring peace to Tahrir also failed.
Above, protesters stand by a fire near Tahrir Square on Wednesday night.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
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ALEXANDRASTEW86
2:16 AM ET
November 22, 2011
Is it better?
Is the change of government would be better? I think a new government would not be better because the process of change does not take place as normal and good.
WALTSWRONGWITHTHISPICTURE
10:57 AM ET
November 22, 2011
calling thomas friedman? lol
didnt tom "i love my nytimes paycheque" friedman tell us egypt was the dawning of a wonderful lovely warmer new spring?