Egypt police pledge no intervention in today's protest at Tahrir Square

Al-Masry Al-Youm
CAIRO, Jul 8: Egyptian police will not be present in Tahrir Square during Friday’s expected million-man protest, said the Interior Ministry on Thursday.

Tahrir Square is now a symbol of Egypt's post-Mubarak freedom for peaceful assembly

Several political forces called for the mass protests demanding the speeding up of trials of senior figures of the former regime and those responsible for killing protesters.

In a statement, the ministry said that Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy issued instructions to his aides to respect people’s right to protest, and for the police to stay out of Tahrir Square unless called in. He said police presence would be limited to the streets around the square.

The statement said that Essawy, together with a number of police chiefs, reviewed the security plan on Thursday to ensure that all protests in all governorates would be secure. They also reviewed various means of dealing with any acts of vandalism to public or private property.

According to the statement, Essawy warned police officers and his aides to be alert to attempts at incitement to violence. He also called on police forces to resolve any acts of confrontations aimed at creating chaos.

The minister told Al-Masry Al-Youm that a number of police officers would be in charge of securing all roads leading to the Interior Ministry, other ministries, and embassies.