Egypt’s military rulers accused pro-democracy demonstrators of being part of a “systematic plan to destroy” the country
as clashes between the security services and angry youths continued for a fourth day on Monday.
At least 12 people, all civilians, have been killed in the violence said to have started on Friday when soldiers savagely beat up an activist in a protest camp blocking a road leading to the prime minister’s office.
But in a televised press conference, General Adel Emara, a member of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, lambasted both the protesters and the media “for seeking to destroy the country”. His soldiers, he said, were “heroes” who used “a high a degree of self-restraint” in dealing with
paid vandals armed with Molotov cocktails and intent on burning public buildings to bring down the Egyptian state.
“
There is a systematic plan to destroy Egypt,” Gen Emara said. “All those plotting against Egypt forget that it won’t fall as long as it has honourable people and as long as it has those heroes from the armed forces ... Egypt won’t fall.”
The general’s televised address was made as protesters and security forces continued to battle in Cairo’s streets and international condemnation grew.
