Egypt justifies quelling of protest

The Egyptian Ministry of Interior said security forces followed the legal procedures to end a protest in front of the Shura Council (upper house of parliament), downtown Cairo, on Tuesday. The security forces ordered the 200 protesters to disperse but they defied and started pelting the policemen with stones, prompting the latters to use water cannon, according to a statement issued by the Ministry this evening. The protest, staged by April 6th Movement in contravention with the recently-adopted law, blocked traffic, thus forcing the security forces to step in. The police arrested 28 rioters and referred them to the Qasr Al-Nile prosecution as a prelude to a legal action against them, the statement added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hazem Al-Beblawi met representatives of some political and youth movements to discuss the recent developments of the domestic situation and the implementation of the law on demonstrations. The participants in the meeting urged for immediate release of all protesters detained today and amendment to some controversial articles of the law, Cabinet spokesman Hani Salah told reporters. The prime minister promised to follow up the matter in the light of the investigations of the public prosecution, Ambassador Salah added.