Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - "The battle is still continuing in Tahrir Square. It is a small civil war", a source of the Church of Cairo tells Fides, which for security reasons does not want to be mentioned. "The paradox is that the majority of people in Egypt go on as if nothing has happened while in areas involved in the clashes, one lives a climate of civil war. I say this because the police, which should be a neutral force to monitor the protest remains peaceful, and intervened to repress it by using really brutal methods", says our source. "The police fired on crowds using lethal ammunition, not only plastic bullets, which, however, I am a witness, were fired on people's faces, several of whom lost one or both eyes. One must also note the use of tear gas different from those used in the past, some white colour, others blue. Some people died from asphyxia caused by these gases. Those who took to the streets is the original group of protest held on January 25 (which forced Mubarak to resign). The Muslim Brotherhood have disassociated themselves from the protest. Unfortunately there does not appear to be neutral third party, to mediate between the protesters and the military", said the source of Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2011)
