The president's son, Ahmed, commands the elite Republican Guard, which has been responsible for shooting protesters.
A witness also told them that armed police shot protesters at a rally.
According to the police, they have shot looters but not protesters.
But the neo-Stalinists would shoot and imprison protesters and critics.
At first the security forces obeyed Ceauşescu's orders to shoot protesters.
Within a few days, members of the Bangladesh Rifles were laying down their arms rather than shoot protesters.
Egypt's military enjoyed hero status at the start of the January uprising for siding with the people and refusing to shoot protesters.
He denied that he gave orders to shoot protesters.
If anyone thinks that American police officers are not capable of shooting protesters down in the street they are naive.
Although they are perfectly capable of shooting protesters down in the street they know the sight of blood flowing leads to bad press.