Thirteen people reported dead as police and protestors battle in Tahrir Square
Thirteen people are reported dead after the fourth straight day of Tahrir Square clashes between security forces and those opposed to military rule in Egypt. Reuters news agency also reported that hundreds have been wounded and scores arrested since Friday. Violence broke out in the streets of Cairo after the second round of the country’s first free parliamentary elections in decades. Police and military forces wielded batons and used tear gas against stone-hurling protestors. Reuters says it has filmed police beating fallen protestors and dragging women through the streets. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged restraint and called on the Egyptian military “to respect and protect the universal rights of all Egyptians.” Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon denounced the “excessive violence” on display in Cairo. The ruling military council directed by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi has pledged to hand over power to an elected president by July.