Yesterday the security forces used unnecessary violence to clear Tahrir Square. Some thousands of demonstrators were still sleeping when police started to knock down their tents and beat people. They turned a peaceful demonstration into a violent clash which injured a thousand people and killed two. The Supreme Council of Armed Forces said today that it will handover its power to civilian rule by the end of 2012, if the chaos ends. This is totally unacceptable, certainly from an institution that claims it wants to install democracy.

Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader in the European Parliament said: “It is expected that today again thousands of demonstrators will fill Tahrir Square to demand the military hand over their power to civilian rule. We urge the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, as well as the Egyptian government and the state media to stop creating violence and chaos. If the military will not organise presidential elections soon, the EU should consider stopping the aid it is giving to Egypt.”

Edward McMillan-Scott (UK, Lib Dem), EP vice-president for democracy and human rights added: “By creating violence the army puts the elections starting on 28 November in jeopardy. Saying now that the army will handover power to civilian rule by the end of 2012 if the chaos ends, is preposterous. The military is creating the chaos deliberately. Egypt will only become a free and democratic country if the army ends military trials, emergency laws and cracking down peaceful demonstrations, without delay."