CAIRO: The streets were nearly empty Friday morning around the entrance to the Cabinet building. Soldiers could be seen behind the barbed wire moving into positions. Police in full riot gear ready for any incident. Ramy, a 29-year-old garbage collector stood by watching. He wanted to join the protests at the other end of the street, behind the stone wall that had been erected in mid-December, but had to work. “I support the protests. I want a better life,” he told Bikyamasr.com early Friday morning. As we was speaking, thousands of Egyptians were making their way to Tahrir Square to continue the demonstrations that began on Wednesday against the military junta ruling the country. A series of rallies are to be staged on Friday, taking protesters from outside mosques in Cairo, and its twin city Giza, to the iconic square after noon prayers, organizers said. 60 opposition groups have announced their participation in Friday's protest, amid growing disenchantment with the results of the uprising that toppled former president Hosny Mubarak. The opposition is increasingly critical of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has been ruling Egypt since Mubarak's overthrow, saying it has blocked reforms and is tainted by human rights abuses. “The revolution is not over. I am going to go and show my support,” Munir, a middle-aged waiter at a coffee shop on Qasr el-Aini, told Bikyamasr.com Wednesday morning. On Tuesday night, a huge march traversing the streets and squares of downtown Cairo was organized by thousands of activists and young people, demanding the handover of power, and the termination of the military trials of civilians. The increased numbers of demonstrators has led to the blockage of traffic in Tahrir and neighboring streets. Participants in the march have demanded that authority be handed over to a civilian presidential council, and the release of political activist Ahmed Doma, and called upon the Egyptian people to take to the streets and Tahrir to commemorate the revolution. Meanwhile, an increasing number of tents have been set up in the square, including tents dedicated to victims of the revolution, and others set up as makeshift clinics. A major platform has also been built near the entrance to Mohamed Mahmoud Street, with dozens of citizens surrounding it. In addition, a second stage was erected on the other side of Tahrir Square, and those who established it raise the slogan “Revolution Committees”, and declared that they have come to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/Bez2W Tags: featured, Jan25, SCAF, Tahrir Section: Egypt, Latest News
