"Where is the army? Come and see what the police is doing to us. We want the army. We want the army"

[Turborama]

Egyptian military vehicles were sighted on the streets of Cairo on Friday after a day of violent clashes between police and protesters demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak's rule.

Protesters had previously chanted slogans calling for the army to support them, complaining of police violence during clashes on Friday in which security forces fired teargas and rubber bullets.

"Where is the army? Come and see what the police is doing to us. We want the army. We want the army," the protesters in one area of central Cairo shouted, shortly before police fired teargas on them.

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Cairo, said protesters reacted positively when an armoured vehicle with troops showed up, possibly indicating that it belonged to the military. "The army is a respected establishment in Egypt, and many feel they need their support against what they see as excessive force by the police and security forces," he said.



From: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/2011128151048463975.html

Apparently, unconfirmed reports are coming out that there have been clashes between the army and police in Cairo this evening.

[tekisui]

1. Reports on twitter and AJE that army personnel and protesters

were shaking hands in addition to reports of army-police clashes.

Coup on the way?

[Sherman A1]

2. Looks to be that way

when the police & army are clashing... that says only one thing to me.

It's the Mubarak going out of business sale.

[Maine_Nurse]

3. That could be a bad thing

As much as things might suck, look at some potential alternatives that could crop up there. Talk about a recipe for a mushroom cloud...

[Sherman A1]

4. Agreed & Well Said

However, I do not know if things are reversible at this point. I suspect not.

[jwirr]

5. Why are they so sure the Army is going to be any different than the police?

[Maine_Nurse]

6. "police" has a different meaning in many places...

Armies are military forces for external uses (fighting off other countries, etc). "Police" is more of an internal military in many ways, protecting the population from internal threats but also protecting the government from the people. The Egyptian army is well respected and even liked by much of their citizenry. Their police, not so much as it is seen as the enforcement arm for the government.

[jwirr]

7. Thanks. That makes sense.