Egypt unrest: Military apologises for protest deaths
Egypt＇s ruling military has apologised for the deaths of about 38 protesters in clashes with police, amid continuing protests in Cairo and other cities.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) said it regretted "the deaths of martyrs from among Egypt＇s loyal sons".
The violence, which began on Saturday, is the worst since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February.
Scaf also said elections would start as scheduled on Monday. There had been speculation that they might be delayed.
In an announcement on Thursday, council member Maj Gen Mukhtar al-Mouallah said the parliamentary elections would be held on schedule. A presidential poll is to take place by June next year.
He said those responsible for deaths and injuries would be held to account, and that protesters arrested since Saturday would be released immediately.
Compensation would be paid to the families of the dead, Gen Mouallah added.
Late on Wednesday, two members of the council appeared on state TV to offer "condolences to the entire Egyptian people".
One of them, Maj Gen Muhammad al-Assar, extended "the regret and apology of the entire armed forces on the tragedy that occurred".
He added: "Our hearts bled for what happened. We hope that this crisis will end and, God willing, it will not be repeated again."
The generals urged Egyptians not to compare them to the former regime of Mr Mubarak, insisting they were not seeking to cling to power.
The BBC＇s Jeremy Bowen in Cairo says public opinion is divided on the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
Some Egyptians want them to go ahead unhindered, while others believe the military must be swept from power first.
The main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, is not supporting the protests and expects to do well in the elections.
On Wednesday, street battles continued late into the night. They were heaviest around the fortified interior ministry off Tahrir Square in Cairo.
The clashes were followed by a truce, which appears to be holding. But the protesters have vowed to continue occupying the square until the country＇s military rulers stand down.
Workmen in central Cairo have been cleaning up the debris.
In Alexandria, protests have been smaller than in Cairo, but one protester said there was continuing unrest early on Thursday outside the security headquarters.
Egypt＇s health ministry revised the death toll from 35 to 38 on Thursday, the official Mena news agency reported.
Of the deaths, 33 were in Cairo, two in Alexandria, two in Ismailiya and one in Marsa Matruh, a ministry spokesman said.
The number of people injured since Saturday was 3,256, he added.
Tear gas anger
Correspondents say some protesters have turned their anger towards the US after tear gas cannisters were found stamped "Made in USA".
Many protesters complain the type of tear gas is far more potent than that used in February＇s demonstrations.
A US State Department spokesperson told the BBC they were "closely following these reports, but we cannot confirm what is being used".
"The United States has not approved licenses of any more potent variations of riot control agents to Egypt than products commonly used by police forces in many countries around the world," they said.
On Wednesday, UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned the "clearly excessive use of force" by Egypt＇s security forces during the clashes.
She called for an independent inquiry into deaths.
Groups of stone-throwing demonstrators have battled riot police in the streets between Tahrir Square and the interior ministry since the weekend.
Protesters have spoken of gunshots and injuries or deaths from live bullets, but Interior Minister Mansour el-Essawy said security forces were only firing tear gas.
The protests have continued despite an attempt by Field Marshal Tantawi to defuse the situation by promising presidential elections by June - six months sooner than planned.
He also accepted the resignation of the civilian cabinet appointed by the military. But in his address on Tuesday, Field Marshal Tantawi offered no apologies for the violence.
Meanwhile ratings agency Standard & Poor＇s cut Egypt＇s sovereign credit rating to B+, with a negative outlook. S&P said the cut reflected Egypt＇s "weak political and economic profile".
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