Police snipers used during Egyptian unrest

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CAIRO, March 3 (UPI) -- Police snipers fired on anti-government protesters during last month's demonstrations that brought down the Egyptian government, a committee in Cairo said.

At least 300 people were killed in Egyptian protests and thousands of others, including foreign journalists who bore the brunt of the violence at one point, were injured.

A government committee found that police affiliated with the regime of President Hosni Mubarak fired on protesters from on top of the American University of Cairo and the Interior Ministry building, Egyptian daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm reports.

Former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly is accused by authorities of ordering security forces to use live ammunition on anti-government protesters Jan. 28.

Adly's lawyers said he issued orders based on false information from his deputies, meaning he wasn't responsible for the decision to fire on protesters.

Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, meanwhile, said it accepted Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq's resignation and tasked a former minister to form a new Cabinet.

Former Transportation Minister Essam Sharaf will lead efforts to form a new government. He reportedly participated in the anti-regime protests that led to Mubarak's resignation Feb. 11.