The Constituent Assembly on Tuesday announced that it will continue its work despite what it described as threats by demonstrators to attack the Shura Council, where its meetings are held, with clashes between security forces and demonstrators ongoing in the surrounding area.
The guards of the People’s Assembly and Shura Council had asked the assembly members to leave the building on Tuesday night, fearing demonstrators might break into it.
Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin said the ministry provides the required security for the Constituent Assembly.
Freedom and Justice Party leading figure and assembly member Mohamed al-Beltagy said he received a phone call from Gamal Eddin and head of Cairo Security Directorate assuring him that the assembly is safe.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister and head of the Constituent Assembly drafting committee Mohamed Mahsoub commented on the issue saying that the Constituent Assembly was protected by the people themselves and that no one could harm any of its members.
The guards of the People’s Assembly have reportedly arrested three demonstrators trying to break into the Parliament building.
During the clashes, stones were thrown at the Parliament building and the windows of the Shura Council were broken, including those in Mahsoub’s office.
Meanwhile, clashes have escalated between demonstrators and security forces on Mohamed Mahmoud and Youssef al-Guindy streets, with protesters throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the security forces, who responded with stones, teargas and rubber bullets.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
