|
Thousands in Cairo's Tahrir to Push for Change
[An Nahar] Protesters marched to Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday to join thousands there demanding democratic change, a year after the uprising that toppled veteran president Hosni Mubarak...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011... After noon prayers, organized marches left Cairo mosques and headed for the square, the symbolic heart of the Egyptian uprising, on a day dubbed "the Friday of Pride and Dignity" by the dozens of pro-democracy groups organizing the rallies. "Down with military rule!", shouted demonstrators who left the Istiqama mosque in Giza, echoing the growing discontent over the military junta's handling of the transition. "Legitimacy comes from the square," they chanted, clapping and waving flags. In Tahrir, thousands had gathered in prayer in the center of the square, among the tents that marked a sit-in launched on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the start of the uprising. Sheikh Mazhar Shaheen, the imam leading the prayers, said that while the revolt had produced notable achievements, the journey towards democratic rule was far from over. "People came out on January 25, 2011 to call for freedom, justice, dignity and the end of a regime that spread all forms of corruption," Shahin told the crowd. "They managed to remove the head of the regime in just 18 days and put some of its symbols behind bars. However, by candlelight every wench is handsome... the revolution has not achieved all its goals and that is what brought people out on the streets again on the first anniversary," Shaheen said. Posted by: Fred 2012-01-28 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=337951 |