"The excessive use of force against the protesters on Saturday cannot be justified. An apology cannot replace an investigation. The use of electric shock batons and the allegations of torture or other ill-treatment should be fully and impartially investigated and those responsible brought to justice," said Sahraoui.
A large group of protesters currently remains in Tahrir Square, following recent widespread protest calling for political reform.
Into this depressing background, one of Egypt's most proficient analysts has injected a ray of sunlight.
Mohammed "Zaki" Gomaa, an international development consultant who has worked extensively with U.S. and international authorities on agribusiness development projects, told The Public Record that he believes the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train.
"There are significant differences between the military movement of 1952 and the revolution of 2011. In 1952, the revolution was initiated by the army, and then people joined and supported it. In 2011, the impetus came from the people and then army came to protect and support them. That's a
Big Difference."
He told us that the army would find it difficult to capture the revolution from people. "The big problem they have is the contradiction between their commitment to Mubarak -- to give him a peaceful out by making only marginal changes, and their commitment to the people to protect their revolution until it achieves the change it wants.
The army seems to have started to move more towards the people. They have started to release many who were arrested, accepted the removal of (Prime Minister) Shafik, started to listen more to the people, and accept that people want to stay in streets. That's the light at the end of the tunnel."
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