Monday, May 07, 2012
CAIRO (AFP)--Egypt's military rulers decided Monday to slap a curfew around the defense ministry in central Cairo for a fourth straight night in the wake of deadly clashes ahead of a landmark presidential poll.
State-run MENA news agency, quoting a military source, said the overnight curfew would be imposed from 2300-0400 GMT, like previous nights.
At least 11 people were killed in clashes last week around Cairo's Abbassiya district, where the defense ministry is located, three weeks ahead of the first presidential election since last year's uprising ousted veteran leader Hosni Mubarak.
The military has arrested hundreds of people following the clashes.
Tensions have been running high in Egypt ahead of the May 23-24 poll, with many suspecting the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took charge after Mubarak was ousted, will keep its grip on power.
But the SCAF has vowed to hand power to civilian rule when a president is elected and denied it is backing any candidate in the election.
If no outright winner emerges this month, a run-off is to be held June 16-17.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-05-12 1553GMT
