CAIRO: For the seventh time since the Egyptian uprising began on January 25, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square to call for change in Egypt. One of the main requests of Friday's crowd was for the government to re-draft the constitution. A simple re-shuffle of the government and modification of the constitution would represent a substantial continuation of the old, corrupt regime, said demonstrators. The crowd included Egyptians of all faiths. Coptic Christians also continued their sit-in before the state television building, close to Tahrir Square, for the fourth day following deadly clashes between Copts and Muslims earlier in the week. The presence of the army was considerably reinforced at the Ministry of Communication on Friday. Tanks precluded the access of vehicles to the site and soldiers armed with automatic weapons watched the crowd from the building. The hardest sectarian clashes broke out in the neighborhood of Moqattam, home to a considerable community of Coptic Christians, earlier in the week. An uncertain number of dead were reported. Many demonstrators maintain the clashes were sparked by thugs and members of Egypt's State Security. The destruction of the church was condemned by Muslims, who are now helping with the rebuilding process, demonstrators told Bikya Masr. BM
