The revolution continues in Egypt!

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Alkindus
Alkindus Members Posts: 1,677 ✭✭✭
edited November 2011 in The Social Lounge
Yeah basically the military refuses to give up it's power so cats are hittin the streets again:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/11/2011111881959573228.html


Middle East
Tens of thousands protest in Egypt
Rally called by both Islamist and secular groups aimed at pressing military rulers to hand power to civilian government.
Last Modified: 18 Nov 2011 15:55

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The rally in Tahrir Square was called over a controversial document floated by the government [Malika Bilal/Al Jazeera]
Tens of thousands of Islamist and secular protesters have gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square and in Alexandria for a mass rally to press the ruling military to hand power to a civilian government.

Friday's demonstration, dubbed as "Friday of One Demand" was called over a document floated by the government which declares the military the guardian of "constitutional legitimacy", suggesting the armed forces could have the final word on major policies.

The Muslim Brotherhood says the document reinforces "dictatorship" and has promised an escalation if it is not shelved.

While Friday's protest will draw different political stripes under different banners, the unifying call is for the military to hand power to a civilian government as soon as possible.

The powerful Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party led the call for the protest.


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Liberal, leftist and other Islamist parties, as well as pro-democracy movements that launched the January 25 uprising, have participated in the rally.

Several secular groups were set to march from the Mohandesseen neighbourhood to Tahrir Square under the banner "We want a president", calling on the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to hand power to a civilian president by April 2012 at the latest.

Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros, reporting from Cairo said the two main demands of the protesters were to prevent the imposition of the government's document, and to set a date for the presidential elections.

"People are saying there has been no referendum on this document, and are asking why it is being imposed before the upcoming elections," she said. "They see this as the military trying to impose their rule."

"They are telling the military to stop trying to unilaterally control this transition period," she said.

According to our correspondent, several tents are currently being installed in Tahrir Square: "There are calls by certain parties for a sit-in until the document is withdrawn by the government," she said. "Tents are being set up, but it is unclear if this is going to be a big movement. There is however, a big momentum behind the protest."

Al Jazeera's Jamal al Shayyal, in Alexandria, reported that thousands of people have gathered in Egypt's second largest city, "mainly heeding the call from the Salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood."

He went on to say that the people of Alexandria are planning on marching after Friday prayers. "Unlike Cairo, this will be turned into a march, where they will march in their thousands towards the military base, which is a few kilometers away."

"This may be a problem, not just because it will bring the city to a standstill, but because it will be a direct confrontation, albeit peaceful, with the military," he said.

Chants emerging from the protests include "We do not want military rule", and "We must protect our revolution".

The protest was due to officially start after the noon Muslim prayers, but the early-morning crowds pointed to a large turnout.

Contested document

The contested government document, presented by Ali Silmi, the deputy prime minister in the interim government, includes clauses that remove the military's budget from parliamentary oversight and allowed the SCAF a final say on military-related matters.

The government revised the draft but Islamists, who organised a mass protest in July against such a charter, have rejected the very idea of a document that would limit parliament's authority to draft the constitution, branding the articles as undemocratic.

The Muslim Brotherhood, through its Freedom and Justice Party, may emerge as the largest bloc in the election.

The SCAF, which took charge after Mubarak's removal and suspended the constitution and parliament, says it will hand over power once a new president is elected.

Parliamentary elections will start on November 28 and are expected to end in March.

The Tahrir Square demonstration comes a day after 25 people were injured when a Coptic Christian march came under attack by assailants throwing stones and bottles.

The Copts were marching on Thursday to demand justice for the victims of a clash with soliders in October that left at least 25 people dead, most of them Christian.

A security official told the AFP news agency that supporters of an Islamist election candidate in the northern neighbourhood of Shoubra joined in the attack on the Copts.

Copts, who make up roughly 10 per cent of Egypt's 80 million people, complain of discrimination in Egypt.

Source: Al Jazeera

Comments

  • Ioniz3dSPIRITZ
    Ioniz3dSPIRITZ Members Posts: 3,985 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 2011
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    the Egyptian people essentially replaced one regime with another. Their revolution should have never stopped when Mubarak left. This is why every revolution needs a clear goal and objective.