CAIRO: The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) announced Thursday the formation of a fact-finding commission to investigate the clashes in Tahrir Square. The commission will be headed by Mohamed Fayeq, vice head of the council. According to lawyer Nasser Amin, NCHR board member, the commission is made up of a number of the council's board members and a number of researchers. At least 36 were killed in clashes with security forces in protests around the country, the health ministry said. The number is contested by rights groups who put the number of deaths at 38 killed by gunshots, rubber bullets or who asphyxiated on CR teargas, claims denied by officials and the ruling military council. "The commission will focus on documenting the deaths and injuries along with investigating the nature of the weapons used during the clashes," Amin said. Protesters said the weapons used by riot police since Nov. 19 were worse than those used during the 18-day uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak. The fact-finding commission will start its work when calm is fully restored, Amin said. "Supposedly, the clashes stopped yesterday [Wednesday] night. But, we will start gathering evidence and then proceed with the investigation," he added. Essam Sharaf's Cabinet had submitted its resignation to SCAF Monday evening on the back of these violent confrontations. SCAF accepted the resignation Tuesday following crisis talks by political powers.
