Cairo, February 03: Human rights groups have condemned the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators in Egypt as clashes between protesters and pro-government forces continue in Cairo.
Amnesty International said the violence in the capital’s Tahrir Square on Wednesday seemed to have been orchestrated by the authorities to suppress the continuing protests.
The rights group also accused the Egyptian army of allowing security forces to flood into the flashpoint square to attack protesters.
Meanwhile, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said Egyptian authorities were directly responsible for the attacks against demonstrators. The group called on the Egyptian government to ensure protection of peaceful demonstrators.
FIDH President Souhayr Belhassan said that those who stirred or failed to prevent violence should be prosecuted.
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) has expressed its deep concern regarding the flagrant use of violence against protesters.
EOHR has also condemned assaults on correspondents and journalists covering the violent clashes in Tahrir Square.
Four people have been killed in the latest clashes in Cairo and more than 1,500 have been wounded, adding to the heavy death toll earlier estimated by the United Nations to stand at at least 300.
People have continued demonstrations and vowed not to stop until President Hosni Mubarak relinquishes power after three decades of authoritarian rule.
On Tuesday, the United Nations called on the Egyptian leadership to pay attention to people’s demand for democratic reform and respect human rights.
——–Agencies