Demonstrations began on Friday morning across Cairo and other governorates as protesters march against yesterday's acquittal of all the defendants in the Battle of the Camel case, the new constitution being drafted by the Constituent Assembly, and the perceived failure of President Mohamed Morsy's 100-day plan. The Union of Revolutionary Youth first launched the call to demonstrate against Morsy's 100-day platform in September. In addition, the union called for protests demanding the dissolution and reformation of the Constituent Assembly and justice for the martyrs and protesters injured during and after the January 2011 revolution. The union soon won the support of the National Association for Change, the Constitution Party, the Egyptian Democratic Social Party, the Tagammu Party and others. The Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafi-oriented Nour Party and Salafi Front joined the protests to denounce the Battle of the Camel case acquittals. Former officials from ousted President Hosni Mubarak's regime had been accused of inciting the killing protesters in Tahrir Square when thugs mounted on camels and horses attacked protesters on 2 February 2011, killing dozens. The Ultras Ahlawy also said they would stage a march on Friday to the presidential palace in Heliopolis to demand that all football activity in Egypt be halted until justice was won for those killed in the Port Said Stadium massacre last February. They are also calling for the dismissal of corrupt leaders in the football leagues and federations. Leftist leader Kamal Khalil told Al-Masry Al-Youm that by joining the protests against the Battle of the Camel ruling, the Brotherhood was simply trying to divert attention away from protests against the new constitution. "The Brotherhood is the ruling authority now, they were the ones who called for a reconciliation with former regime symbols ... and now they are calling for retribution?" Khalil said. Other demands from protesters today include setting the minimum wage at LE1,200, reversing the Morsy administration's decision to end government subsidies on essential commodities, eliminating corruption in state institutions and putting an end to the country's dependence on foreign aid and loans.
