Britons told to stay away from Tahrir as 12 die in Cairo clashes

British nationals were last night warned to stay away from Cairo’s Tahrir Square as violent clashes left at least 12 dead.

Egyptian security forces surged on thousands of protesters chanting against the ruling military council in a second day of bloody battles.

The Foreign Office amended its travel advice to warn British nationals to stay away from flashpoint areas around Tahrir and the city centre, avoid crowds and seek advice from their tour operators.

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It said the embassy, near Tahrir, remaineds open, but urged citizens seeking consular advice to call rather than turn up.

Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said: “It is important Egypt enters the coming elections in an atmosphere of calm and mutual respect.

“The clashes between police and protesters in Tahrir Square and across Egypt are deeply concerning and the loss of life and injuries deeply regrettable.

“We are following events closely and our embassy is in contact with the Egyptian authorities in Cairo.”

Police, backed by the army, used batons and tear gas yesterday to charge protesters demanding Eygpt’s ruling generals swiftly hand power to civilians, in the worst violence since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

With little more than a week to go before a parliamentary election that starts the process of transition, it was reported that at least 11 people died in a second day of violence yesterday and 192 wounded.

“The people want the toppling of the regime,” thousands of protesters chanted before and after the charge by police backed by military police officers.

The demonstrators accuse the army of seeking to retain power as it oversees the transition, which could see the military remain in control until presidential elections, which may not happen until late 2012 or early 2013.

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Generals deny any such intention and the cabinet reiterated last night that violence would not delay the staggered parliamentary elections that start on 28 November.

“We have a single demand: The marshal must step down and be replaced by a civilian council,” said protester Ahmed Hani, referring to Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the ruling military council.

“The violence yesterday showed us that Mubarak is still in power,” said Mr Hani, who was wounded by a rubber bullet.

The security forces, who moved in as darkness fell, beat some protesters with batons. One group of demonstrators formed a line and bowed in the traditional Muslim prayer. Most held their line as the police moved in.

After initially fleeing, protesters poured back into the square.

The protest that began on Friday was led by Islamists, but it has since been largely driven by many of the same youthful activists who ended Mubarak’s 30-year rule, putting national pride over religion.

A row has erupted between political groups and the army-picked cabinet over ground rules for drafting the constitution that could leave the military free of civilian control. Parliament is to pick the assembly to draw up the constitution.

Many Egyptians are angry that nine months after removing Mubarak, the army remains in charge and police are still using the same heavy-handed tactics against demonstrators.

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The army-backed cabinet had outraged many Egyptians by presenting proposals for the new constitution that would have shielded the army’s budget from civilian oversight and given it a broad national security remit.

It had amended the proposals to give civilian powers more say, but this was not enough to prevent Friday’s protest.