Egypt l The 'popular committees' hold sway at night Cairene

Cairo is a nocturnal world capitals A giant of 20 million souls that stretches at dusk and abhors silence. His fame accredited cafes and bazaars open until dawn has succumbed to curfew on Wednesday after the bloody eviction of camping Islamists that left more than 600 dead. The city falls silent with the last rays of the evening sun and is the territory of military, police and "popular committees". Crossing the city becomes an odyssey and roulette. From the airport to downtown, checkpoints of uniformed happen every few meters.armored vehicles with a handful of sleepy and beardless soldiers stationed in the vicinity line the avenues that connect wide shady Medinat Nasser neighborhood with the decaying center Cairo. A drive sheds unusual images hardly imaginable empty boulevards, wrapped in shadows and escorted by rows of shuttered shops. Only a miracle happens sometimes in the middle of the moor fleeting ghost. And on the horizon is the glow of a truck packed with fruit and vegetables or echoes the noise of children playing football at a stone's throw from the headquarters of the Republican Guard, the epicenter of Islamist killings in July drew the way for the brutal repression later. In the controls busiest, a dozen cars struggle with usual chaos Egyptian streets to achieve the placet of the military and resume the way to the next stop. The fate scarce: Not all shipped fast the process of opening the trunk, pry the goods and scrutinize the occupants. Those who must wait are engaged in discussions with the troops or complain when the military lifted the canvas of their trucks and inspect the contents without much sense of urgency. By leaving the main arteries in and out of government buildings, monitoring changes hands. few weeks ago The police and the self maligned 'popular committees' are the absolute kings of the street. Control, more intense and rough, degenerates into a hunt for Islamists.

Harassment of the press

The neighborhood patrols, colorful and filled with weapons drawn, are watchful eye: the look of those who break the curfew is scrutinized carefully. A beard luenga or niqab, the female garment that covers the entire body except for the eyes, are cause for alarm.And the luggage also passes a thorough examination. The authorities named after the military coup on July 3 have launched a harassment campaign accusing the international press for fueling the version of the Muslim Brotherhood. And the rhetoric has taken effect in civil squads patrolling the Cairene night. There have been robberies and attacks on reporters, at least the passivity of the security forces and intelligence.Yesterday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement the ban on these groups also emerged during the revolt against Hosni Mubarak to fill the void left by the disbanding police plunged the country into anarchy. According to Interior, Anti-Islamist these committees have made ​​"some illegal activities." Multiple reports of thefts and assaults reveal their misdeeds. The formation of these squads to outlaw was encouraged last week from public television 'Tamarrud' (Rebellion, in Arabic), akin to the military movement that organized the massive protests ousted Mohamed Mursi and gathered more than 22 million signatures demanding his resignation. During the last, fateful five days, which have claimed the lives of 850 civilians and 70 officers, committees-fitted clubs, bars, weapons and have implemented your order. His presence and strengthening the security device marred yesterday rebellious reschedule the baptized"week of rage". The deployment of the committees, shortly before the curfew begins at 7 pm local time, forced the acolytes of former president away from the populated areas of Cairo, suspend some of the marches planned and meet in suburbs such as Helwan, south of the city.