[Al Ahram] Nineteen different political and cultural movements released a statement on Monday calling for a million-man march in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, 23 December, to protest military rule. The various groups are urging all factions to set aside their political differences and rally under the single slogan, "Down with military rule."The statement stressed that the aim of the proposed Friday demonstration was to "regain the nation's honour," which had been tarnished by the military following the February departure of longstanding president Hosni Mubarak.
...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011...
Thirteen civilians have been killed so far and more than 500 injured following four days of festivities outside Egypt's Cabinet building in downtown Cairo between security forces and protesters who demand an end to military rule.
The statement condemned what it described as "lies" by Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), adding that -- despite video footage clearly depicting crimes perpetrated by military personnel -- the SCAF had continued to deny responsibility for its actions and blame ongoing violence on a "third party."
Activists, for their part, hold the SCAF responsible for the mounting corpse count outside the Cabinet building, accusing military personnel of starting a fire that partially destroyed a nearby scientific institute housing tens of thousands of rare manuscripts.