Thousands of angry Egyptian women joined a fifth day of protests in Cairo to voice outrage over what they said was the military's abuse and mistreatment of female demonstrators. ''Egyptian girls are a red line,'' they chanted during a peaceful march from Tahrir Square through the centre of the Egyptian capital on Tuesday, while male protesters formed a protective line around them. ''Down with the military rule!''
Some carried posters and pictures of women they said were beaten, stripped and assaulted in recent days, including one woman who was captured on video as military police stripped some of her clothing to expose her bra, and then appeared to stamp on her.
The footage has been circulated, fueling a growing public anger toward the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has been ruling the country since the overthrow in February of the president Hosni Mubarak.
''That girl who was stripped by army officers didn't just reveal her body, but she revealed the brutality and atrocities carried out by the army,'' one female protester, who did not want to be identified, said.
''We don't trust them any more. They should cede power immediately.''
Sensing the public frustration, the military council quickly issued an apology and vowed to punish those who mistreated women. The statement expressed ''deep regret to the great women of Egypt'' and reaffirmed their right to protest and take part in the democratic transition.
The military's expression of regret was a stark reversal to recent denials that soldiers had used excessive force against demonstrators.
On Monday, General Adel Emara, a member of the military council, blamed the violence on protesters, whom the army has tried to paint as criminals.
At least 13 protesters have died in clashes since Friday and 800 people have been injured, some from gunfire
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