BBC Middle East Editor, Jeremy Bowen, reports for First News about the violent clashes in Egypt as protesters took to the streets ahead of elections for new leaders.

ANGRY PEOPLE 

The street leading into Cairo’s Tahrir Square was full of angry people.

Hundreds of young men were battling with riot police, breaking up pieces of the pavement to throw at them. The police fired back volleys of tear gas and buckshot, which are small pellets that cause cuts – and blindness if they hit people in the eyes. Dozens of wounded protesters were being rushed back from the fight on the backs of Chinese motorbikes, and transferred to ambulances that took them to hospital.

The tear gas grenades came fizzing in, trailing thick white vapour. Some of the young men would pick them up and fling them away. Others were caught in the gas cloud and staggered away from the police, choking and coughing.

EYES HURT BADLY

It may be called tear gas but it does much more than make your eyes weep. Even a trace of it in your mouth, nose and eyes hurts badly. You start coughing, sometimes uncontrollably, always painfully. Your nose runs, much worse than any cold. It is so unpleasant that you just want to run away from the gas to take a proper breath.

My eyes were red and sore for two days after I was caught up in it. Some people said that the Egyptians were using an extra-strong military version of the gas, which can kill, but I did not see convincing proof.

The police in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, were using gas because it is an effective way to control a hostile crowd.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE ARAB WORLD? 

The Arab world – in which Egypt is the most important country – is ending a year of extraordinary change with more drama. In 2011, the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have been toppled by revolution and war. The President of Syria could be next. No ruler is safe in a region where the people want a better life and a say in what happens to them.

Most of the demonstrators are young. Half the population in most Arab countries is under 25 years old.

In Egypt’s revolution at the start of the year, the people, helped by the army, overthrew President Hosni Mubarak, who had ruled for 30 years. He was replaced by a group of army generals who said they would get the country ready for its first free elections.

The first round of the elections was held at the end of November. But, just before the vote, thousands of people re-occupied Tahrir Square, right in the centre of Cairo, just as they did during the revolution back in January and February. They don’t believe the generals want to give up power. Some of the protests turned violent after the security forces killed demonstrators, leading to days of clashes.

CHANGES IN EGYPT

But the protesters in Tahrir Square do not have as much support as they did during the revolution. It was simpler to organise opposition when most people were united by their hatred for President Mubarak. Now there are many different political parties, who disagree about the future.

The final votes will not happen until next year but, already, it looks as if religious parties supported by devout Muslims are winning. That could result in more big changes in Egypt.