CAIRO: There are the Islamists, the conservative Salafists and the Muslim Brotherhood, and the liberals, but there seems to be little division in the message on Friday as hundreds of thousands of Egyptians pour into Cairo's Tahrir Square. That message is unity and an end to military rule in the country, now 10 months on from an uprising that ousted longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak. By early morning, tens of thousands of conservative Islamists had taken up positions in the square, the focal point for the 18 days of protest that ousted the former regime. By 1 PM, the left had arrived. Instead of what some analysts expected to be a confrontation, the demonstrations swelled and the chants against the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) rang out from the square in unison. “Leave [irhal],” was directed at Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the same chants that were heard in January and February this year toward Mubarak. It was a positive, almost festive atmosphere, Bikyamasr.com reporters on the ground said. “People are smiling, but at the same time they are talking about the end of the military rule with intensity,” said one reporter. Despite the apparent unity and cohesion, there were sentiments from Islamists that the country should turn toward a more conservative Islamic approach to the country. They handed out leaflets detailing their election platforms, a nod to the upcoming elections on November 28. Many were there to support the Islamic cause. “I'm here because it is my duty to stand with the Egyptian people against the army,” restaurant owner Mahdy Dewar told Bikyamasr.com. “Egyptians know the way we will choose a leader. A message to those who fear Islamic rule, it will take care of non-Muslims,” he added. A declared Muslim Brotherhood member said he was in Tahrir to demand an end to the SCAF's rule over Egypt and to protest the military's attempt to take over the planned new constitution. “I'm here to protest the constitutional amendments,” said Yassir Abdallah, in reference to the military council's attempt to ensure they have the final say in all national matters and have no oversight. A demand that most political groups are opposed to. “We want no censorship from SCAF,” Abdallah added. The overall mood was the calls for the removal of the military from its perch atop Egyptian society and politics. “We are asking the SCAF to step down by April 30. SCAF is trying to make a law above the constitution and we are asking them to cancel it,” said 20-year-old Bilal Saidy, a member of the conservative Salafist front. ** Hayden Pirkle contributed to this report from Tahrir Square. BM
