Student protesters forced out of Tahrir and into Talaat Harb

Clashes were reported from Talaat Harb Square as evening fell in Cairo. The square was filled with students who had earlier protested at Cairo University before moving to Tahrir Square, where they were confronted by security forces.

Live footage from a private TV channel, ONtv, showed hundreds of protesters in side streets around Talaat Harb and Abdel Monem Riad Squares.

Human rights lawyer Mohamed Abdel Aziz told Mada Masr that hundreds gathered in Mahmoud Bassuiony Street, off Talaat Harb Square, chanting “Down with the military regime.” Said Abdel Aziz: “When one guy chanted against Morsi as well, they refused to repeat after him, before they were attacked with tear gas.”

Army forces have reportedly closed Tahrir Square to traffic. Tanks are currently surrounding the protest while police are attempting to disperse the crowds using tear gas and water cannon.

In a phone call to privately owned TV channel CBC, the head of the Egyptian Ambulance Organization reported no injuries in the clashes that took place earlier in Tahrir Square. He said that ambulances had been sent to the area in anticipation of treating injured protesters.

Central Security Forces fired tear gas on approximately 1,500 protesters in Tahrir Square on Sunday afternoon, partly dispersing a predominantly pro-Morsi rally that splintered off from protests that started in Cairo University in the morning.

Following a notable absence of security around protests throughout the day, Central Security trucks charged into Tahrir Square shortly after protesters arrived chanting  anti-military and pro-Morsi slogans. CSF and military trucks, after dispersing people from the square, continued to roam the area.

Cairo and Alexandria University students commenced a strike Sunday to denounce the killing of engineering freshman Mohamed Reda, who was shot dead on Cairo University campus Thursday. 

Numerous marches took place on both campuses. At Cairo University, students set a police truck parked off campus on fire, eyewitnesses reported. State-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported an absence of security forces in the vicinity of Cairo University, as hundreds of protesting students blocked traffic.

Protesters from Cairo University later marched to Tahrir Square and continued their demonstration. The students were joined by other protesters chanting against the regime and holding Rabea signs, in solidarity with hundreds who died during the violent dispersal of a pro-Morsi camp in August. 

The President of Cairo University, Gaber Nassar, briefly joined protests on campus and denounced the student death, Al-Ahram reported. The administration announced three days of mourning without disruption to classes.

The Faculty of Engineering Student Union first called for a strike after Reda died from pellet wounds on Thursday, vowing to halt classes completely, even at the expense of their exams. 

Students and University administration were outraged by the killing of a student inside the premises of the University. 

According to a student union statement, the faculties of Engineering, Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Political Science, and Computer Science are all on strike. While classes for most departments have resumed as normal, the student unions of the faculties of Media, Pharmacy and Medicine are suspending their activities and organizing protests. 

Baher Adel, vice president of Alexandria University Student Union, told Mada Masr that protests and strikes are also taking place within several faculties in the Mediterranean city in solidarity with Cairo University students. 

The police dispersed protests at Alexandria University on Saturday by firing tear gas inside the campus.

In a rare incidence of university administration siding with the students against the government, Cairo University President Gaber Nassar issued a statement on Saturday strongly condemning the firing of pellets and tear gas on university premises. 

Nassar held the security apparatus responsible for the student's death, maintaining that police forces exceeded all limits by continuing to chase and target students even after they were inside the campus.

Another student was killed at Al-Azhar University earlier this month during intense clashes between students and police forces that took place over the course of several days.