Egypt army, police move to evict Cairo protesters

Associated Press

A protester throws a tear gas grenade back at Egyptian riot police near the interior ministry in downtown cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011. Firing tear gas and rubber bullets, Egyptian riot police on Sunday clashed for a second day with thousands of rock-throwing protesters demanding that the ruling military quickly announce a date to hand over power to an elected government. The police battled an estimated 5,000 protesters in and around central Cairo's Tahrir Square, birthplace of the 18-day uprising that toppled authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak in February. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian army troops and police have launched a major assault to evict protesters from Cairo's Tahrir Square. Hundreds of army soldiers and police, backed by armored personnel carriers, used tear gas, rubber bullets and batons to evict several thousand protesters Sunday from the central Cairo square that saw the birth of the popular uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak nine months ago. An Associated Press reporter at the scene said police and troops chased the protesters out of most of the square, dismantling their tents and tearing their banners. The protesters are demanding that the military, which took over from Mubarak in February, quickly announce a date for the handover of power to a civilian government.

CORRECTS CREATION DATE - Egyptian riot police are seen on the move during clashes with protesters in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011. Firing tear gas and rubber bullets, Egyptian riot police on Sunday clashed for a second day with thousands of rock-throwing protesters demanding that the ruling military quickly announce a date to hand over power to an elected government. The police battled an estimated 5,000 protesters in and around central Cairo's Tahrir Square, birthplace of the 18-day uprising that toppled authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak in February. (AP Photo/Ahmed Ali)

A wounded protester is evacuated during clashes with Egyptian riot police in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011. Firing tear gas and rubber bullets, Egyptian riot police on Sunday clashed for a second day with thousands of rock-throwing protesters demanding that the ruling military quickly announce a date to hand over power to an elected government. The police battled an estimated 5,000 protesters in and around central Cairo's Tahrir Square, birthplace of the 18-day uprising that toppled authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak in February. (AP Photo)