The General Coordinator of the Tahrir Youth Movement Sherif Idris filed a complaint on Saturday with the prosecutor-general's office against former defence minister and head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Hussein Tantawi.

Idris accused Tantawi of being responsible for the killing of peaceful protesters during clashes at Mohamed Mahmoud Street in November as well as December's clashes in front of the Cabinet building – both in downtown Cairo.

At least 41 protesters were left dead and thousands were injured during five days of street battles, following a police crackdown on sit-in demonstrators in Tahrir Square on 19 November 2011.

A subsequent December crackdown saw 19 killed and hundreds injured as army forces violently dispersed a sit-in staged by hundreds of protesters at the Cabinet offices protesting military rule and Kamal El-Ganzouri’s appointment as interim prime minister.

The complaint further charges that Tantawi bears responsibility for the recent Sinai attack in 5 August that left 16 Egyptian soldiers dead and another seven injured.

Hussein Tantawi was retired by President Mohamed Morsi on 12 August as part of a large-scale military reshuffle.