14/07/2011 10:54
Egypt fires 700 police officers
Almost 700 senior police officers in Egypt are being removed from their jobs over the killing of protesters during the revolution earlier this year, the BBC reports referring to the Interior Minister Mansour Essawy.
According to the letter 505 generals and 164 officers would end their service on 1 August. Egyptian state TV said that 37 of the dismissed officers face charges of killing protesters.
Protesters have vowed to keep up pressure on Egypt's military rulers. They are calling for a new government, limited power for the military council, the release of civilians being tried in military tribunals, and speedy public trials for former regime officials, the source reports.
More than 800 protesters were killed during the 18-day revolt that led to the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February. The move seems to be a victory for Egypt's embattled Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo. An earlier announcement by him to take similar action was blocked by the interior minister, the BBC writes.