Fresh Fear In Egypt.

Over the past few days, fresh violence has erupted in the Egypt capital of Cairo, amidst growing concern for the stability of the country and the surrounding regions.

Tahrir Square, quickly becoming dubbed Terror Square, once again has been the centre of an occupation movement from many thousands of the capital’s citizens, in the longest demonstration campaign since the February revolutions that caused waves across the continent.

At first, the scale of the violence was not appreciated, with the claims of two deaths on Saturday also being widely disregarded. However, this first inclination to ignore the problems of a nation led to the dramatic uprising some nine months ago: this has to be one of the fastest repeats of history known in modern times.

By Monday morning, morgues had confirmed over 30 deaths, whilst number amassing to almost 2,000 were reported as casualties.

TV reports have shown the widespread use of tear gas, aggression, and make shift weapons from wood and other loose materials, including concrete. More importantly than the February demonstrations, other prominent Egyptian cities are now taking up arms in the protest, with action reported in Alexandria, Suez and Aswan.

The unrest has risen from the continued presence of the military as the official power keepers of the country. When first introduced as the interim preservers of peace in the winter months, they promised elections would be held in September, but notoriously these have been delayed.

Although elections are now due to start next week, the action already spreads a sombre tone over what was supposed to be a joyous moment for the Egyptian people to vote for the first time after three decades of autocratic rule under Mr Mubarak. Since the Egyptian people served their own warning notice of resolution to the government and army back in February, taking to the streets despite the widespread attempts from officials to uphold the then current system, it seems rather foolish of the current army officials to have taken the situation so likely.

Propositions to delay elections till the end of 2012 have however only serve to paint the current officials in the most dictatorial light.

Moreover, it provides an ample opportunity for any successor and their government to highlight the need for stronger control, resulting in a complete turn back to a tyrannical or oppressive parliament.

Undoubtedly, the fresh waves of violence and deaths will ultimately stain the transition to democracy and highlight the need for a civilian administration: the worry is that the violence could grow into a mob and the revolution play out in a much similar way to the struggle seen in close Northern territory, Libya. However, will the West sit back and have an ambivialent role before they step in again?

Just as happened at the beginning of the protests against Hosni Mubarak's rule earlier this year, it was the deaths above all that really brought the people out on the streets. Perhaps this totalitarian nightmare is an Egyptian curse not quite yet broken…