Armed assailants kill 6 protesters in Cairo

At least six people, protesting against the junta in Egypt, have been killed by unknown armed men near the Defense Ministry building in the capital, Cairo, Egyptian security officials say. The officials said that the incident took place early Wednesday when the unidentified armed men used rocks, clubs and firebombs to target hundreds of protesters who had been camping out near the ministry for days, calling for an end to the military rule in the country. Dozens of protesters were injured in the attack, officials said on condition of anonymity. Activists accuse the Egyptian junta of using thugs and plainclothes troops to break up demonstrations. On Sunday, a protester was killed and several others injured in clashes that broke out near the Defense Ministry building in Cairo. Angry protesters first took to the streets on Friday in protest at the election committee's decision to ban two candidates of Egypt's Islamic parties from running in the presidential race. The demonstrators called for the reinstatement of the disqualified candidates and the overhaul of election law. The protesters further condemned the Supreme Electoral Committee for allowing former Premier Ahmed Shafiq to enter the race. This is while, Shafiq was disqualified on Tuesday after the Supreme Council of Armed Forces approved a law barring former regime ministers from seeking office. But the electoral committee restored his qualification on Wednesday. Egypt's electoral commission earlier disqualified the Muslim Brotherhood's prime candidate, Khairat al-Shater. Salafi nominee Hazem Abu Ismail was also banned from the May polls. Egypt's election is scheduled to be held on May 23-24, and a run-off will follow on June 16-17 if necessary.