CAIRO: As protests enter its 15th day in Egypt against the Egyptian regime, more than five hundred media figures declared their rejection of official media coverage of the January 25 uprising and demanded that Minister of Information Anas El-Fikki step down. It yet another sign that Egyptians are not yet ready to return home without a new leader in place. The journalists issued a statement expressing their anger towards the “falsification of facts and lack of transparency in the coverage of the popular anti-Mubarak revolt led by Egyptian youth” and they called for an official apology by the Minister and state-owned TV channels. The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information went on to state its firm belief that no reforms would take place as long as El-Fikki remains in office. They also accused him of spreading false information about the demonstrations, calling it a shameful act. Egypt is not giving up. On the same day, thousands of Egyptians protested outside the parliamentary building, off Cairo's Qasr el-Eini street, to demand the People`s Assembly immediate dissolution. At least 4,000 protesters, marched from Tahrir Square to the Parliament, chanting slogans “void … void … this parliament is void.” The army officers asked the protesters to stay away from the parliament's main gate. As at least one million persons protested in Tahrir for the resignation of Mubarak, and other protests also erupted at the Ministry of Health, where the employees demanded the resignation of the advisers of the dismissed Minister Hatem al-Gabali – who lost his post in the cabinet reshuffle during the first week of demonstrations. Other workers have seemingly joined in with protests, saying enough is enough. Telecom Egypt workers protested low wages and journalists protested in front of some state-owned newspapers on Tuesday, calling for the resignation of its editors and the head of the syndicate of journalists. overtures by the government are largely seen as window-dressing and efforts to appease the protesters. Demonstrators in the country remain steadfast, however, as thousands continue to maintain their position in Cairo's Tahrir Square. A shantytown of sorts has been erected and on Sunday, the unity of the movement was seen as a cross-section of citizens joined in a day of martyrs prayers. Egyptian Christians and Muslims alike gathered in Cairo's central Tahrir Square on Sunday to unite in prayer for those who have lost their lives in the past two weeks of anti-government protests. It came on the heels of worries that the protests had become dominated by the Muslims and the Muslim Brotherhood – Western media was keen on discussing this point – and anti-Christian sentiments. Protesters on the ground told Bikya Masr that this idea is “ridiculous” and “misses the entire reality here in Tahrir and across the country.” Mona, a 38-year-old teacher, told Bikya Masr after rounds of prayers by both Christians and Muslims, “the people are united and remain so until the end of the dictator Mubarak is gone and we have our country for each other. Go Mubarak, we are ready for a new country without corruption and torture.” Following two days of violent clashes last week between anti-Mubarak demonstrators and pro-Mubarak thugs, Tahrir Square appears to have returned to its previous peacefully festive atmosphere. Ahmed Tarek, 31, a graphic designer told Bikya Masr that what is happening across Egypt “is brilliant. We are now in the millions and in Alexandria as well. This is the end of the Mubarak government. Mubarak, go away, we don't want you.” ** Mohamed Abdel Salam contributed to this report in Cairo. BM
