In one of the most of powerful shows of female might the Arab world has seen, thousands of women joined demonstrations on the streets of central Cairo Tuesday, decrying the brutality of Egypt's security forces.

A couple of days ago, there emerged shocking images of a female protester being brutally beaten by Egypt's military police. The footage, which depicted a young woman being dragged, caned and kicked by security forces, has evoked widespread anger. Several world leaders have condemned the treatment of protesters by Egypt's military police.

On Tuesday, nearly 10,000 female protesters converged on Tahrir Square, holding up placards denouncing the violence and images of the assault.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Egypt's security forces were deliberately targeting women. "This systematic degradation of Egyptian women dishonours the revolution, disgraces the state and its uniform and is not worthy of a great people," Clinton said in a speech at the Georgetown University in Washington. She termed the treatment of women by Egypt's security forces as shocking.

On Tuesday evening, Egypt's military leadership expressed regret over the treatment of women by security forces and promised action against those responsible.

Some of the powerful images of the protesting women have been captured here: