Protesters backtrack after briefly climbing tax office building

Angry protesters have climbed down from the tax office building after briefly using it as a position for attacking security forces. Amr Hamed, the spokesman for the Revolution Youth Union, said the group managed to convince the demonstrators to evacuate the building. “The building was not stormed. No damage has taken place inside the building,” he said. “We persuaded the protesters to climb down to avoid blemishing their image. We don’t want anyone to accuse our peaceful demonstrations of damaging public property.” Around noon on Friday February 3, some protesters had climbed to the roof of the tax office building opposite the Ministry of Interior headquarters in downtown Cairo, using it as a position for attacking security forces. The protesters brought along furniture and electric equipment to use as shields. They hailed stones and Molotov cocktails onto security forces stationed outside the ministry; according to one security source, 138 security troops were injured. Two people were killed in Cairo Thursday night during ongoing clashes with Central Security forces after demonstrations were staged around the country against the military regime. Clashes continued all through the night between protesters and Central Security. So far 1,482 have been injured in Cairo. The death of at least 70 Ahly football fans in Port Said on Wednesday brought thousands of Ahly club fans called "Ultras Ahlawy" and other protesters out on the streets, demanding justice for the martyrs and the stepping down of Egypt's military rulers.