Egyptian troops forcibly cleared Cairo's Tahrir Square of protesters Monday after nearly a month of demonstrations. The protesters seek speedier political reforms following the ouster of former leader Hosni Mubarak in February.

Witnesses say security forces dismantled tents and sent hundreds of protesters fleeing. It is unclear how many people were arrested or hurt during the clearing of the square, which served as the epicenter of the revolution.

Witnesses told VOA troops entered the square from two directions and that civilian attackers joined in, throwing rocks at demonstrators.

Many of the demonstrators already had left the square to mark the start of the Muslim holy month, Ramadan.

Several hundred protesters reoccupied Tahrir Square on July 8 to demand a faster pace of political reforms. Demonstrators urged military rulers to purge all government officials who served under former President Mubarak and to prosecute those linked to violence and corruption.