On the second anniversary of 2011's 18-day uprising, protesters will
gather in the country's main rallying points; clashes between
demonstrators and security forces continue on Cairo's Qasr Al-Aini
street, and in Alexandria
Also taking part in the march are the president’s former advisor Seif
Abdel Fatah, and several members of the Strong Egypt Party including
political analyst Rebab El-Mahdi and TV anchor and poet Abdel-Rahman
Youssef.
The 6 April Democratic Front and the Socialist Youth Movement are also participating in the march.
Al-Ahram Arabic website quoted Abul-Fotouh as saying that he rejected
the slogan “the people want the fall of the regime” and “down with the
rule of the [Muslim Brotherhood’s] Supreme Guide”, saying that it was
not 25 January 2011 and that he and his party want to reform the regime
and not topple it.
14.55 According to Mohamed Sultan, the head of the
health ministry's ambulance service, four people have been injured so
far today in the clashes in Cairo, with a total of 29 injured since the
violence began yesterday.
14.50 Numbers at the Mostafa Mahmoud mosque in the
middle-class Cairo district of Mohandeseen are steadily increasing,
reports Ahram Online’s Ekram Ibrahim.
Ibrahim spoke to Mohamed Sherif, a 28-year-old demonstrator who has been protesting since January 28, 2011.
"My demands are that Morsi changes the government and that the constitution is cancelled. If these top demands are not met I will not leave Tahrir Square," said Sherif.
The Shubra march, led by labour activist Kamal Abou Eita, has reached
almost 20,000 people, reports Ahram Online’s Hossam El-Hamalawy.
Protesters are chanting: “Students with workers against the president’s
exploitation.”
14:45 Al-Ahram Arabic is reporting a number of
anti-government demonstrations around Egypt. Protesters in Qena, Upper
Egypt, have staged a demonstration in Al-Mahatta Square chanting "Down
with the rule of the Morshid [Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood]"
and "They said justice and stability and the people are left hungry."
Members of the Egyptian Democratic Party, the Nasserist Party, the
National Salvation Front, and the Constitution Party all took part in
the protest, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.
In Mahalla city in the Nile Delta, protesters reportedly tore down
images of President Morsi that had been put up by his supporters,
reported Al-Ahram Arabic. Hundreds of protesters marched through the
centre of Mahalla chanting "Leave, leave, Morsi" and "Mahallah is with
Tahrir." Their chants also described the current situation as the "era
of train martyrs and house collapses.”
14:40 Clashes have erupted in Egypt's second city of
Alexandria, reports Ahram Online’s Ahmed Eleiba. The march coming from
Qaed Ibrahim reached the Governorate headquarters, where the street
battles began.
Hundreds of demonstrators who identified themselves as members of the
Black Bloc formed lines as they approached the government building and
were met with tear gas from the security forces.
Several people have fainted and ambulances are rushing to the scene, said Eleiba.
Ahram Online’s Yasmine Fathi says what seems like bullet shots can be
heard and reports snipers can be seen on top of a fire fighting brigade
station. Protesters are breaking up the pavement to make rocks.
Meanwhile, Al-Ahram Arabic website reporter Ahmed Sabri says several
individuals dressed in black and identifying themselves as members of
the Black Bloc have stormed the Alexandria Court.
In Northern Sinai, police forces have arrived near El-Horreya Square,
formerly called El-Refaei Square, in Al-Arish city in anticipation of
any violence that may erupt in Friday’s demonstrations, Al-Ahram Arabic
news website reported.
14:30 Moving back to Tahrir, Sarah El-Rashidi says
political figure and founding member of Kifaya movement George Isaac has
just entered the square surrounded by a huge a crowd.
Atif Aziz, a demonstrator in his forties, tells Ahram Online why people are so reluctant to talk to the media
“We are in a huge dilemma...it is not about getting rid of Morsi it is much more complicated than that.”
Aziz blames the current status on the lack of a plan from the side of the revolutionaries.
14:20 The march leaving from Shubra is growing, says Ahram Online reporter Hossam El-Hamalawy.
As the march kicked off, the protesters were greeted by a family of a
slain protester from their balcony as those marhcing chanted for
vengeance for those killed during the January 25 Revolution.
The rally which was dubbed “the march for social justice” focused on
calling for labour rights, present was prominent labour activist and
head of the independent union of Real Estate Tax Agency Employees Kamal
Abou-Eita.
14:15 Six people have been injured, including a Spanish
journalist in the Qasr El-Aini clashes, reports Ahram Online journalist
Zeinab El-Gundy.
14:10 A boisterous Alexandrian march leaving Qaed
Ibrahim rally point is chanting against the Muslim Brotherhood and
calling for the end of Morsi’s rule, reports Ahram Online’s Yasmine
Fathi from the coastal city.
Demonstrators are chanting for the right of the martyrs and focusing
mostly on Gaber Salah or ‘Jika’, a 16-year-old protester who was shot by
police last November during clashes around the Ministry of Interior.
14:00 US embassy warned their citizens in Egypt to
avoid downtown areas of Cairo and Heliopolis as well as Alexandria on
the January 25 Revolution's anniversary.
"As a matter of general practice, US citizens should avoid areas where large gatherings may occur. Even demonstrations or events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. US citizens in Egypt are urged to monitor local news reports and to plan their activities accordingly," read the security statement on their official website.
13:45 Protesters are demanding the application of
minimum and maximum wage as well as protesting the increase in prices at
a gathering in working-class district of Imbaba, says Ahram Arabic
website.
The hundreds-strong rally is preparing to march on Tahrir.
“Shout out loud residents of Imbaba the Brotherhood do not represent us,” the angry demonstrators chant
13:40 Moving back to Alexandria, several thousand
protesters have started marching from Qaed Ibrahim rallying point toward
Muharam Bek, reports Ahram Online’s Yasmine Fathi.
13:35 Hamdeen Sabbahi and Mohamed ElBaradei, National
Salvation Front leaders and former presidential candidates, are leading
the Mostafa Mahmoud march.
Thousands are moving from Mohandiseen to Tahrir. Meanwhile back in
downtown Cairo a smaller march form Al-Fath Mosque in Ramsis Street has
kicked off as well.
13:30 Employees from Egypt’s Stock Exchange in
downtown Cairo report an increased security presence outside of the
building, ahead of potential riots, says Ahram Arabic news websit.
13:25 Moving to the working-class district of Shubra,
thousands have already started marching to Tahrir square carrying
Egyptians flags, reports Ahram Online journalist Hossam El-Hamalawy.
Protesters are chanting against Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide
Mohamed El-Badie and deputy-head of Freedom and Justice Party Essam
El-Erian, accusing the latter of being a Zionist.
Among those demonstrating are youth of the opposition coalition
National Salvation Front, April 6 Youth movement and the Revolutionary
Socialists.
“The people demand the overthrowing of the regime,” chant the protesters.
13:15 In Alexandria’s Qaed Ibrahim, prayers finished and demonstrators have increased now to thousands.
13:10 Prime Minister Hisham Qandil has reportedly asked the Ministry of Communications to boost network coverage in places where huge rallies are expected for the anniversary rallies, says Minister of Communication Atef Helmi.
13:10 Prime Minister Hisham Qandil has reportedly asked the Ministry of Communications to boost network coverage in places where huge rallies are expected for the anniversary rallies, says Minister of Communication Atef Helmi.
Speaking to Turkish press agency Anatoli, Helmi said the capacity of
the three working networks Mobinil, Etisalat and Vodafone will be
increased by 15 -20 per cent. These wavelengths will be taken from the
army.
13:05 Tens of protesters at Heliopolis’s presidential
palace, the site of mass rallies in December against President Mohamed
Morsi, blocked El-Merghany street using burning tyres for 30 minutes
until security forces convinced them to retreat, reports Al-Ahram Arabic
news website.
13:00 According to Mohamed Sultan head of Egypt's ambulance, at least 35 ambulances will be present on the square.
"We will also be coordinating with the field hospitals which will start working following Friday's prayers," Sultan told Al-Ahram Arabic news website.
"We will also be coordinating with the field hospitals which will start working following Friday's prayers," Sultan told Al-Ahram Arabic news website.
12:55 Meanwhile, in Mohamed Mahmoud street near Tahrir
Square tens of protesters are chanting “They have killed our brothers
on the square, they too must die”, reports Al-Ahram Arabic news website.
12:50 From Alexandria’s Qaed Ibrahim Square, Ahram Online’s Yasmine Fathi talks to a passerby, Mohamed Hisham
“What is happening to the Brotherhood today is exactly what happened to prophet Mohamed during the early days of his message when the Kuffar (infidels) were fighting him."
12:47 Back on Tahrir, Ahram Online’s Zeinab El-Guindy
reports that the clashes are intensifying on the corner of the
flashpoint square. A tear gas bomb thrown from the police’s side was
picked up by a young boy who threw it back at the security forces.
Moving to the center of Tahrir Square, El-Guindy says the preacher
Mohamed Abdallah Nasr leading the Friday prayers is attacking the Muslim
Brotherhood saying, they are “using double standards.”
12:45 Back to Cairo, leading figure of the National
Salvation Front Mohamed ElBaradei has just arrived at Mostafa Mahmoud
mosque, in the middle-class district of Mohandissen to join in the
prayers before the marches start, reports Ahram Online’s Ekram Ibrahim.
12:35 Meanwhile inAlexandria at the main rallying
point Qaed Ibrahim Square, hundreds have already gathered. However,
Sheikh Ahmed Mahalawy, known for his pro-revolution speeches during the
18-day uprising in 2011 and controversial pro-Islamist sermons which
have sparked recent clashes in the coastal city, chose not to give the
Friday sermon.
Banners demanding that President Mohamed Morsi steps down surround a
mixed crowd, which includes both young and old as well as many women.
Chants condemn the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party as “liars”.
Two marches are planned in the coastal city, one from Qaed Ibrahim
another from the Two Saints Church and possibly a third rally from the
middle-class area of Victoria Square.
Ezz El-Din El-Azzazy, 29, talking to Ahram Online's Yasmine Fathi at Qaed Ibrahim says:
“I am here because of the increasing prices. I come from the slums and I feel that the Brotherhood only care about the poor when they need votes."
12:25 There has been a low turnout at the Mostafa
Mahmoud Mosque rallying point even after Friday prayers, says Ahram
Online's Ekram Ibrahim.
Tens are holding Egyptian flags in an absence of political groups.
12:15 Scuffles between protesters and security forces
erupt on Qasr El-Aini Street near Tahrir Square a few hours before
thousands are scheduled to gather on the square to mark the revolution’s
2nd anniversary.
Ahram Online reporter Zeinab El-Gundy on the scene says police forces are firing tear gas.
The clashes reportedly took place after a number of protesters
attempted to bring down the wall built by security forces on the street
adjacent to key government buildings.
Earlier on Thursday, two protesters were arrested by the police for
trying to remove the wall which was built in November 2012 during
Cairo’s downtown street Mohamed Mahmoud's commemoration where clashes
took place between Egypt's Central Security Forces (CSF) and protesters.
12:00 As the Friday prayers begin, protesters have
already begun rallying in Cairo’s Shubra district, ahead of the expected
march to Tahrir, reports Ahram Online’s Adam Makary.
Members of the Black Bloc, a new vigilante group all dressed in black,
who made their first statement on the eve of the second anniversary
vowing to fight the Muslim Brotherhood, are planning to march on the
presidential palace instead of Tahrir.
Black Bloc statement released on 23 January.
11.45 Hundreds are already gathered in the iconic
square reports Ahram Online’s Zeinab El-Guindy. Street vendors are
lining up around the square selling flags, t-shirts, food and drinks
catering to the masses expected to appear marking the revolution
anniversary.
11.30 Good morning, we open our live coverage of today’s mass rallies for the 2nd anniversary of Egypt’s 2011 uprising.
The sun shines over Tahrir squares as it welcomes the third round of
the January 25 Revolution with banners hung saying “No to the Prosecutor
General, No the Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme guide, No to Military
trials”.
Tahrir is filled with tens of tents and a small mural of the January 25
Revolution’s martyrs has been erected in the middle of the square’s
garden.
Small demos are marching around the square chanting “Leave” awaiting
the masses who plan to march to the square following Friday's prayers.
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