<p>Protests in Cairo and other major cities carried on for a fourth day. Security forces stayed out of Tahrir itself to lower the temperature. But there were clashes on side streets leading to the square — the epicentre of the uprising that ousted longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak in February.<br /><br />The new wave of protests and violence around the country that began on Saturday has left 29 dead and has thrown Egypt’s politics into chaos less than a week before landmark parliamentary elections were to begin.<br /><br />Staggered parliamentary elections, the first since Mubarak’s ouster, are to begin on Monday and conclude in March.<br /><br />“If the elections don’t happen, there could be a clash between the army and the people. That’s what we’re afraid of," said protester Mustafa Abdel-Hamid. He said he wanted a clear timetable for the transfer of power. “The army is making the same mistake as Mubarak. They hear the demands but respond when it’s too late," said Abdel-Hamid, a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood who came to Tahrir even though his movement has not endorsed the protests over the past four days.<br /><br />The Brotherhood and its Islamist allies are expected to dominate the next parliament, while the liberal groups behind Mubarak’s ouster appear poised to lag behind, lacking unity and a cohesive vision. The Brotherhood is staying out of the latest protests, arguing that it did not want the nation to be dragged into a “bloody confrontation”. But secular activists say the Muslim fundamentalist group is more keen on grabbing power than ensure the future of the nation.<br /><br />Seething anger<br /><br />Tens of thousands of people were in Tahrir by nightfall and the crowd was growing steadily — the numbers typically peak at night after everyone gets off work. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the 18-day uprising that toppled Mubarak, with jubilation over the large turnout mixed with the seething anger directed at the military.<br /><br /> The crowds carried an open wooden coffin with a body of a slain protester wrapped in white and held a funeral in the middle of the square. A stuffed military uniform was hung from a central light pole with a cardboard sign on its neck saying “Execute the field marshal,” a reference to Tantawi, Mubarak’s defence minister of 20 years.</p>
<p>Protests in Cairo and other major cities carried on for a fourth day. Security forces stayed out of Tahrir itself to lower the temperature. But there were clashes on side streets leading to the square — the epicentre of the uprising that ousted longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak in February.<br /><br />The new wave of protests and violence around the country that began on Saturday has left 29 dead and has thrown Egypt’s politics into chaos less than a week before landmark parliamentary elections were to begin.<br /><br />Staggered parliamentary elections, the first since Mubarak’s ouster, are to begin on Monday and conclude in March.<br /><br />“If the elections don’t happen, there could be a clash between the army and the people. That’s what we’re afraid of," said protester Mustafa Abdel-Hamid. He said he wanted a clear timetable for the transfer of power. “The army is making the same mistake as Mubarak. They hear the demands but respond when it’s too late," said Abdel-Hamid, a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood who came to Tahrir even though his movement has not endorsed the protests over the past four days.<br /><br />The Brotherhood and its Islamist allies are expected to dominate the next parliament, while the liberal groups behind Mubarak’s ouster appear poised to lag behind, lacking unity and a cohesive vision. The Brotherhood is staying out of the latest protests, arguing that it did not want the nation to be dragged into a “bloody confrontation”. But secular activists say the Muslim fundamentalist group is more keen on grabbing power than ensure the future of the nation.<br /><br />Seething anger<br /><br />Tens of thousands of people were in Tahrir by nightfall and the crowd was growing steadily — the numbers typically peak at night after everyone gets off work. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the 18-day uprising that toppled Mubarak, with jubilation over the large turnout mixed with the seething anger directed at the military.<br /><br /> The crowds carried an open wooden coffin with a body of a slain protester wrapped in white and held a funeral in the middle of the square. A stuffed military uniform was hung from a central light pole with a cardboard sign on its neck saying “Execute the field marshal,” a reference to Tantawi, Mubarak’s defence minister of 20 years.</p>
