UN human rights chief Navi Pillay condemns Cairo deaths

[mattbatchelor]

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has condemned the "clearly excessive use of force" by Egypt's security forces during clashes with protesters.

Ms Pillay called for an independent inquiry into the death of at least 30 people since the weekend.

Critics of Egypt's ruling military council are still occupying Cairo's Tahrir Square despite its pledge of a speedier handover to civilian rule.

Street battles are continuing for a fifth day in the capital.

"I urge the Egyptian authorities to end the clearly excessive use of force against protesters in Tahrir square and elsewhere in the country, including the apparent improper use of tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition," Ms Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement.

"Some of the images coming out of Tahrir, including the brutal beating of already subdued protesters, are deeply shocking," she added.

"There should be a prompt, impartial and independent investigation, and accountability for those found responsible for the abuses that have taken place should be ensured," Ms Pillay said.

Wednesday's street battles in Cairo are focusing on the interior ministry building, near Tahrir Square.

Security forces have been using tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators.

There have also been clashes in several Egyptian cities including Alexandria, Suez, Port Said and Aswan.

'Mubarak copy pasted'

The unrest continued despite the promise of a speedier transition to civilian rule by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf).

He said presidential elections would be held by July 2012 - the council had previously said they might not happen until late 2012 or 2013.

That move, coupled with a draft constitution produced earlier in the month that would exempt the military and its budget from civilian oversight, prompted the days of mass demonstrations in Tahrir Square that began on Friday.

In his address, Field Marshal Tantawi also confirmed that parliamentary elections scheduled to begin on 28 November would be held as planned.

The violence is the worst since a wave of street protests toppled President Hosni Mubarak in February, after three decades in power.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says that when the army first took over, they had the trust of the overwhelming majority of ordinary Egyptians - but now the protesters want them to hand over power immediately.

After Field Marshal Tantawi spoke, protesters in Tahrir Square chanted: "We are not leaving, he (Tantawi) leaves."

One protester told AFP news agency: "Tantawi is Mubarak, copy pasted. He's Mubarak in a military uniform."

Source: BBC News