Egyptian Health Minister Ahmad Sameh Hosni Fareed said Wednesday that at least 365 people were killed and 5,500 others were wounded in the protests that forced President Hosni Mubarak to resign, according to the state TV.
The preliminary count of the casualties did not include police or security forces, Fareed said, adding there are more cases to be added to the final report after collecting more information from the health offices.
Some 32 policemen were killed and 1,079 others were wounded in the mass protests, official MENA news agency said Monday, citing Interior Ministry sources.
Fareed denied that stolen ambulances during the demonstrations were used for transporting criminals and weapons.
Egypt had witnessed mass protests against Mubarak since Jan. 25, which finally led to the president’s resign on Feb. 11.
Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which is now in charge of the country, on Tuesday set a period of 10 days for the constitutional amendment committee to finish its task.
The military council formed the committee on Tuesday in the presence of Minister of Defense and Head of Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Hussein Tantawi and Sami Anan, chief-of-staff of the armed forces.
The eight-member committee, chaired by Tareq el-Beshry, former head of Egypt’s supreme constitutional court, includes three constitutional experts and three judges, as well as a representative of the Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s prominent opposition group which is officially banned.
The constitution’s articles 76,77,88,93,189 are expected to be revised to guarantee democracy and free elections while article 179 will be cancelled to pave the way for the annulment of the emergency state law which has been in effect for 30 years.
The military has pledged to transfer power to elected government in six months or until the presidential and parliamentary elections are held.