Egypt unrest enters day 3

CAIRO – Protesters demanding the end of military rule and Egyptian troops hurled rocks at each other in the center of Cairo on Sunday in the third day of clashes that have killed at least 10 people and injured hundreds.

The violence has exposed sharp divisions among Egyptians about the military council that has ruled since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown Feb. 11 in a popular uprising that helped inspire revolts against autocratic rulers across the Arab world.

Anger has been building among young activists over the generals’ failure to deliver promised reforms and their refusal to cede power to a civilian administration until the middle of next year. But many Egyptians are tired of the economic disruption caused by months of unrest, and the number of demonstrators in the streets has remained relatively small compared with previous protests.

The latest skirmishes began after the second stage of voting last week for a new parliament, which many see as a path to stability and civilian rule. Voter turnout Wednesday and Thursday was 67 percent, electoral officials said, even higher than in November, when 52 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. A final round is scheduled in January, with presidential elections promised by July.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement whose political party won the largest share of votes in the first round last month, has criticized the military’s response to protesters but has not sent its supporters into the streets, suggesting it is unwilling to risk its gains at the polls.