Cairo: Egypt's military rulers said yesterday they were "deeply sorry" and apologised for the killing of at least 38 people in clashes between the police and protesters across the country.
In a message on its Facebook page, the ruling military council promised to "firmly and swiftly" bring to justice all those suspected of involvement in a widely criticised crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square and other parts of the country.
The junta, in control of Egypt since former president Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February, said a military field hospital will be set up in Tahrir, which was the scene of bloody clashes for the past five days.
"Tell me another joke," said Hassan, a protester, camping in Tahrir Square along with thousands others. "Where has been the military council in the past five days? Has it just woken up and realised that peaceful protesters were brutally killed by police?"
Cautious calm prevailed yesterday in Tahrir as a truce was holding in a nearby street where security forces and demonstrators clashed for five days.
Several opposition groups have called for Egyptians to attend a mass protest in Tahrir today to put pressure on the military rulers to leave power. The head of the council, Hussain Tantawi, said on Tuesday that the council was ready to step down "if the people wanted through a public referendum".
The tensions come a few days before Egypt is to go to the polls to elect a new parliament.
Mukhtar Al Mulla, a member of the junta, said yesterday that the three-round elections would begin as scheduled on Monday. "They will be held on time because they represent the first step towards building democracy," he told reporters in Cairo. "Nothing should hinder this step."
He added that army troops will support the police in securing the elections, running until January 10. Egyptian expatriates started on Wednesday voting around the world at embassies for the first time. Their vote runs until tomorrow.
