EGYPT: Protests switch to demands on pay

 

Police are now demanding higher wages and rallied outside the interior ministry

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Fresh protests and strikes have flared in Egypt as demonstrators demand better pay and conditions from the country's new military rulers.

Bank, transport and tourism workers all demonstrated in Cairo after 18 days of protests succeeded in removing President Hosni Mubarak.
In a TV statement, the military urged all Egyptians to go back to work.
Earlier Cairo's Tahrir Square was cleared of protesters, but hundreds soon returned, joined by police.
Most of the thousands of protesters in the square had left on Sunday after welcoming the announcement by the new ruling military council that it would dissolve parliament and suspend the constitution.
'Honour the martyrs' The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says there appears to be a whole series of mini-revolutions going on in the wake of the removal of Mr Mubarak and that the big challenge now facing the military rulers may be staving off a wave of strikes.
In a televised statement, the military said the best guarantee of a smooth transition to civilian rule would be if all Egyptians went back to work.
Strikes and disputes "will damage the security of the country", the army's ruling high council said.

 

Military police closed in on the hard core in Tahrir Square but it filled again later on Monday

There are reports the military is planning to prevent meetings by labour unions or professional organisations, effectively banning strikes. Correspondents say this could cause more unrest and trouble.
In a separate protest, hundreds of uniformed and plainclothes police marched to Tahrir Square, shouting "We and the people are one" and vowing to "honour the martyrs of the revolution".
The officers wanted to convey the message that they had been forced to act against their wishes in using force on protesters early in the anti-government demonstration.
Our correspondent, Jon Leyne, says whereas the army is fairly well trusted, the police are frankly detested and this effort to rebuild relations with the public will take a lot of time and hard work.
He says that earlier on Monday, security forces had removed the final protesters from Tahrir Square, using a degree of force and making a few arrests. But the square soon filled again with a new wave of protesters.
FUENTE BBC: lea con cuidado pq la BBC (generalmente) defroma las noticias( miente???)