Military police, Central Security Forces and civilian supporters forcibly opened Tahrir Square to traffic Monday afternoon, tearing down tents and dispersing a sit-in protest that began on 8 July. Eyewitnesses said army forces fired warning shots in the air, and protesters responded by hurling stones. Plain clothes officers carrying automatic machine guns have been touring the square. Armored military vehicles have since moved to the entrances, as well as Central Security Forces vehicles. Three members of the Democratic Front Party were arrested, according to a party spokesperson. Al-Masry Al-Youm has not been able to confirm any other arrests. The operation began around 2 pm Monday when military forces closed the entrances to Tahrir Square, as local business owners crowded around cheering in support. “This is what you should have done three weeks ago,” one man yelled at the army. Others chanted, “The people and the army are one hand,” a common refrain from the 18-day uprising last winter when protesters tried to gain the military's support against now-deposed President Hosni Mubarak. Civilians, many armed with clubs, rushed into the square to tear down the tent city that has been in place since early last month, when protesters and families of those killed during the uprising started a sit in to pressure the ruling military council for justice. When asked why the military directed the civilians to enter the square, a soldier told Al-Masry Al-Youm, “To let the people help the army.” “They entered and they destroyed the tents while we were inside,” said Galal Faisal, whose brother Nasser was killed outside the Imbaba police station in January. “We had old women and mothers of martyrs with us and they had to run away.” “I am happy this happened to show how the people and the army are united against the martyrs' families,” Faisal said. He also said he plans to file a lawsuit against the army for the attack. On Sunday, 29 political groups announced they would suspend their sit-in during the holy month of Ramadan, which started today.
