Egypt Fires Around 700 Top Police Officers
Egyptian authorities on Wednesday bowed again to protesters, firing close to 700 top police officers, state television reported.
The dismissal of 669 police officers was declared on Wednesday by Interior Minister Mansour el-Issawi. It responds to one of the main demands of protesters camping out in Cairo’s central Tahrir Square.
Egyptian state TV reported that 37 of the dismissed officers face charges of killing protesters. Among those dismissed were 505 major-generals, including 10 of the interior minister’s top assistants, 82 colonels, and 82 brigadiers, the report said. “This is the biggest administrative move… to bring new blood,” to the police force, el-Issawi said.
The minister promised that police officers would be held accountable for any violations.
