The latest clashes between Egyptian security forces and more than 5,000 protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which started on Tuesday night, are alarming. Not only are they threatening the stability of Egypt at this very critical stage, they are also a major source of distraction for all Egyptians who are yearning to return to normal life.
What Egypt witnessed in February was absolutely historic and the onus is on everybody, Egyptian protesters and police alike, to maintain a level of security and stability in order to be able to move forward.
These clashes are mainly triggered by the fact that families of those killed during the revolution are angry with the slow pace of the trials of the policemen and officials accused of killing and ordering the killing of their relatives during the protests. Their frustrations are indeed legitimate but they cannot expect the trials of these policemen and officials to take place overnight. And they certainly can't ask for everybody to be tried at the same time. This is not to say that justice shouldn't be served.
The transitional government in Egypt and the army have a duty to investigate these killings and take the necessary action. But in a post-Mubarak Egypt, there's an urgent need to focus on the bigger picture, and this starts with maintaining security and stability for all.
