Protesters, military clash in Cairo

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CAIRO, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- At least four people were killed in clashes Tuesday between protesters and military personnel at Tahrir Square in Cairo, medical personnel said.

Yamen el-Genedy, a doctor at the Omar Makram Mosque field hospital, told Ahram Online he saw the four bodies brought to the hospital.

"The bullets had entered and exited their bodies, making it seem like the result of snipers. The force of the gunshots was very strong," el-Genedy said.

Military personnel initially were successful in driving protesters away from Tahrir Square, but the demonstrators eventually returned, bikyamasr.com. "We will not be silenced," an activist told the Arab news Web site. "The military has to kill us all if they want to keep their power of the country."

Gen. Adel Emarra, a member of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, condemned the burning of the Egypt Scientific Institute, accusing protesters of conducting a "systematic and methodical plan" to burn institutions and "the state itself."

Witnesses told bikyamasr.com the military personnel and protesters threw rocks at each other and the military also used rubber bullets, live ammunition and batons.