Amnesty: Halt arms transfer to Egypt

CAIRO, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Amnesty International, pointing to Egyptian military violence against protesters, called for a global halt to transfers of arms and ammunition to the country.

"It can no longer be considered acceptable to supply the Egyptian army with the types of weaponry, munitions and other equipment that are being used to help carry out the brutal acts we have seen used against protesters," Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said in a news release Tuesday.

Citing "excessive force against protesters," the human rights group urged an end to transfers of small arms, light weapons and related munitions as well as "equipment that could be used to violently suppress human rights" such as tear gas, rubber and plastic bullets and armored vehicles.

The Egyptian Health Ministry said 11 people had been killed and hundreds injured in Cairo since Friday, Amnesty reported. At least 300 people, including women and children, were in custody and referred for prosecution. About 50 others were arrested, then released, the human rights group said.

The violence erupted when military members arrived to clear a sit-in outside Cabinet buildings, and burned tents, beat protesters with sticks and tires and threw stones and sharp items -- then began using live ammunition and firing shotguns at protesters, the rights group said.

Amnesty said video footage showed "harsh and prolonged beatings" and military police using excessive force.

The ruling military council has praised the army and blamed the violence on protesters, calling them "thugs and vandals" who provoked the army and security forces by attacking government property, Amnesty said.

The weekend violence marked the third time since October protests have turned deadly, raising the number killed to at least 84.