Violence escalates after death of soldier during protests outside defence ministry in runup to presidential elections
Troops are guarding Cairo's defence ministry after a soldier was killed and more than 370 people were injured during demonstrations against'sEgypt's ruling generals in the runup to the presidential election.
Military prosecutors have detained more than 300 protesters following clashes outside the ministry on Friday in which soldiers fired teargas on the crowd.
The streets of Abbasiya district were calm on Saturday but strewn with rocks and other missiles hurled by protesters.
Lawyer Ragia Omran said the detainees, who include 18 women, were being interrogated and could face military trials. They face charges of attacking military troops, belonging to groups that aim to disrupt public order and being present in restricted military areas, Omran added.
Reports suggested more than 100 soldiers were among the injured.
The violence followed the first sustained large-scale protests near the ruling generals' headquarters since the removal of Hosni Mubarak in an uprising last year. The military council had warned the demonstrators before the march that deadly force would be used against them if they approached the ministry.
On Saturday, the head of the military council, field marshal Hussein Tantawi visited the injured troops and inspected the area of the clashes. State TV showed footage of the funeral of the dead soldier.
The violence cast a shadow over presidential elections, due to begin in three weeks.
Anger at the ruling military council, which took power after Mubarak's removal, has spread across the political spectrum. The generals are accused of using oppressive measures and moving to maintain a degree of power even after the presidential election and handover of power.
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