Clashes reveal Egypt’s volatility 5 months later

Associated Press

CAIRO

Two days of street battles between security forces and protesters in Cairo show just how volatile Egypt remains nearly five months after the popular uprising that ousted authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak.

More than 1,000 people were hurt in the unrest Tuesday and Wednesday, driven by discontent over the slow pace of justice for old regime figures accused of corruption and killing protesters.

The clashes in Tahrir Square — the worst since the 18-day uprising — add a new layer to an already painful and chaotic transition from Mubarak’s regime to democratic rule under the supervision of the military.

The violence will likely set back efforts to empower the discredited police to fully take back the city’s crime-ridden streets after they melted away during the early days of the Jan. 25 to Feb. 11 uprising.

Additionally, it will almost certainly deepen the distrust felt by many Egyptians toward the 500,000-strong security forces blamed for the worst human-rights abuses during Mubarak’s 29-year rule.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the latest unrest “underscores the fact that this is a very difficult period for Egypt.”

“It’s a period of transition and we remain committed to assisting the people of Egypt as they make their way through this period of democratic transition,” Toner said.