Nightly News   |  November 26, 2011

Standoff in Egypt

Clashes continue as military rulers tried to negotiate an end to an increasingly deadly standoff. NBC's Lester Holt talks with NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin about the violence.

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LESTER HOLT, anchor: continued as military rulers try to negotiate an end to an increasingly deadly standoff. For the latest, we turn to NBC 's Ayman Mohyeldin in Cairo . Ayman , good morning -- good evening.

AYMAN MOHYELDIN reporting: Good evening, Lester . It was Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri 's first day on the job and it was one that began with tragedy. Outside the Cabinet office where he was going to assume his responsibilities, there was a protest there physically trying to prevent him from entering the building. And in the ensuing confrontation, a protester was struck by a security vehicle and he was killed instantly. Now the general prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the incident, vowing to hold accountable anyone responsible. But the protesters felt the attack was deliberate. They've seen these types of attacks on the protesters in the past. It gives you really a sense of the tension between the two sides. Now all of this coming against some very intense political negotiations taking place between the military and key political figures. The protesters have been demanding that the military step down from power and hand over control to a civilian government. But the civilian government so far has not been successful in getting the military to give up any power. They say that will only happen once elections take place. But it may be several months away before power is ready to be handed over to the people. Back to you, Lester .

HOLT: Ayman Mohyeldin in Cairo for us this evening, thank you.