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 13:10 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. 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, who comments on the demonstration saying “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, here is the video 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. Here is a guide to the marches taking place today. Thousands are expected to gather in Tahrir Square to mark the 2nd anniversary of Egypt's January 25 Revolution amid deepening political turmoil across the country. Thursday night saw clashes between security forces and protesters on Qasr Al-Aini Street by key government buildings such as the upper house of parliament and the Cabinet headquarters, after groups attempted to remove a 12ft concrete security barricade erected by the military during previous street battles. Political parties and movements from across the spectrum – both Islamist and non-Islamist – have made plans for the day ranging from protest rallies and marches to public street-cleaning campaigns. On Sunday, 16 revolutionary parties and groups announced plans to mark the occasion with countrywide demonstrations. These groups say they will continue to push for longstanding revolutionary goals – namely 'freedom, bread and social justice' – and combat perceived political monopolisation by Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. Friday's rallies are slated to begin immediately following noon prayers. Several marches will set out for Tahrir Square from different areas of Cairo and Giza, including Helwan, Shubra, Al-Zawaya, Imbaba and Mohandeseen's Mostafa Mahmoud Square. Another march has also been planned from points in Cairo to the Presidential Palace. Additional rallies are also expected in several governorates, including Alexandria, the Red Sea, Kafr Al-Sheikh, Assuit, Port Said, Suez and Sharqiya. Among the parties and groups participating in Friday's planned protests are the Constitution Party, the Egyptian Popular Current, the Socialist Popular Alliance, the Free Egyptians party, the Revolutionary Socialists and the Maspero Youth Coalition. The Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), meanwhile, declared that they would – unlike last year – refrain from taking part in either celebrations or protests. Rather, the group plans to launch a campaign from 24 January to 5 February aimed at providing free healthcare and public sanitation services.
