Egyptian Army Separates Protesters

The military appears to be pushing back against pro-government supporters who launched brazen attacks on protesters Wednesday.

The Egyptian military is walking a fine line attempting to deal with the unprecedented demonstrations that have gripped the country. After urging anti-government protesters to go home, the army appeared to permit pro-government supporters to enter Cairo’s Tahrir Square Wednesday, some of them riding on horseback and brandishing whips and sticks. Six people died in ensuing clashes. Now it appears the military is pushing back against the pro-government groups, which are rumoured to contain plainclothes policemen, separating them from demonstrators and dislodging them from vantage points around the square that they had used to rain projectiles down on the people below. Demonstrators have vowed to intensify protests and have set a Friday deadline for the departure of President Hosni Mubarak.