CAIRO: Following the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq on Thursday morning, protests planned for Friday have been rebilled as a celebration of Shafiq's resignation. The Coalition of the Youth of the Revolution had planned to march to Tahrir Square on Friday and protest until the dismissal of Shafiq and his government. Following the news that Shafiq had resigned and Essam Sharaf had been asked to form a new government, some opposition groups called for the protest to be cancelled. The Youth Coalition said Thursday afternoon that Friday would be a day of celebration, stressing that it would continue pressuring for the remaining demands of the revolution to be met. The Coalition congratulated the Egyptian people on the great triumph of the revolution and for the objectives that have been achieved so far, including the resignation of Shafiq, who was appointed as Prime Minister by former president Hosni Mubarak shortly before his resignation. Shafiq was Prime Minister of Egypt for just 33 days. Sharaf, a former Minister of Transportation, was appointed Prime Minister by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and asked to form a new government. Sharaf was one of a few ex-ministers who declared their support for the revolution in its early days, and reportedly joined the demonstrations in Tahrir Square the Tuesday before Mubarak's resignation The Youth Coalition's statement also commended the military council for its response to this demand, saying it represents an important step on the road to cleanse the country of remnants of the former regime. The Coalition called upon Sharaf to form a technocratic government that starts a national dialogue with the youth, national and opposition powers and to be devoid of any names belong to the former regime, its policies and the formerly ruling National Democratic Party. The Coalition reiterated demands that the next Cabinet set a timetable to complete the objectives of the revolution: 1. Dissolving the state security apparatus and restructuring the Ministry of Interior, to be headed by a civilian; 2. The release of all political detainees; 3. Speedy trial for those who issued or carried out orders to use violence or live ammunition against demonstrators during the January 25 Revolution; 4. Prosecution of corrupt people who looted the wealth of the Egyptian people; 5. Early elections of local councils; 6. Consider the economic and social demands of the Egyptian people and the implementation of the court ruling to set a minimum wage with a maximum ratio of 1:15, and solve the current labor union and re-elect a union represents the independent trade unions. The Coalition's statement said, “We also reaffirm the importance of extending the transition period under the leadership of a presidential Council and the postponement of the elections dates announced by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces in parallel with the achievement of public freedoms and to suspend the emergency law and the amendment of the law guarantees the right of political parties.” BM
