In what appears to becoming commonplace in Egypt, clashes broke out on Monday between protesters and security after a Cairo court released 7 police officers on bail accused of killing protesters during an uprising that ousted the former government in February.
The initial outburst of violence at the Cairo courthouse eventually saw the protesters head to the highway linking the Egyptian capital to the city of Suez, where the road was blocked.
The police officers are accused of killing 17 people in Suez during protests that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak.
Egyptian activists have been calling on the military overlords – in power since February 11 – to move quicker on trials for former officials and police officers involved in the killing of protesters during the uprising.
Around 1,000 people were killed in the 18 days of protests that saw millions of Egyptians take to the streets.
In recent days, violence has returned to Cairo streets as angry and frustrated demonstrators are beginning to return en masse to the streets and Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
“We are here because things need to change and they need to do so for the better and quickly,” one protester, Omar, told Bikya Masr on Tuesday morning.
He added that there are forces in the country, from the military to supporters of the former regime who are attempting to foment fear and violence in the country.
“We are peaceful demonstrators here in Tahrir trying to continue to make a difference, but all these other people are attempting to derail our cause and the future of Egypt because they don’t want change,” he said.
The pro-reform activists are demanding that the military move quicker on reforms and the trials of former officials involved in the death of activists during the January 25 uprising.
Mubarak and his sons Alaa and Gamal are due to go on trial in August over the deaths of protesters.
After the judge in Cairo ordered the release of the seven officers and adjourned their trial until September, the victims’ families attempted to reach the defendants, who were quickly removed.
After last week’s clashes between Egyptians and police in the capital’s main artery, the sense on the street is that the country is again spiraling toward a violent confrontation.
“It is definitely a worry that we must be careful not to let happen,” one activist told Bikya Masr.
Another, Ahmed, said that a number of “forces” are attempting to derail “our attempts to push Egypt in the right direction so it is hard to keep calm when many sides are attacking us.”
Already, the country is gearing up for planned mass demonstrations on July 8 organized by youth movements in the country.
Women have been warned away from spending the night in the square – female activists had been instrumental in bringing down Mubarak and had stayed overnight in the makeshift tent cities throughout the 18-day uprising – in what some say could be a sign of expected violence.
“I don’t know, but women should not be staying at night in the square, we don’t want any trouble,” one organizer for the demonstration told Bikya Masr.