CAIRO: Thousands of Egyptians started flocking into Tahrir Square Friday morning, answering the calls of tens of political movements and coalitions, in what was dubbed as the “Friday of protecting the revolution”. Several marches circled the main garden in the iconic square chanting for the fall of the ruling military council and denouncing the former head of the intelligence Omar Suleiman's decision to join the presidential race. The protesters called him a “killer of Gaza babies” over his close ties with Israel and called for him to be imprisoned. Suleiman, who is widely unpopular in the Egyptian street, was ousted president Hosni Mubarak's deputy during the last days of power. Suleiman's nomination news brought together the left and the right in the political street in one hand against him and against all the past regime affiliates, who remain in their position. The Muslim Brotherhood mobilized their sympathizers and members into the square and erected a stage in the square, on one hand promoting their nominee Khairat al-Shater, and on the other, bashing Suleiman. The group also invited thousands of its “sisters” to come to the square and protest, adding great numbers to their side. It is worth mentioning that during the first stage of the Egyptian revolution, and when Suleiman was the deputy, he invited political powers for dialogue, and while all other groups and affiliations refused to engage with any talks with the government, the brotherhood sat with him and called his promises of change “very promising and positive”. Many held pictures of the protesters killed by the police during past protests, calling for the nominations of the fallen regime affiliates who joined the race, to be voided. Pictures of Suleiman, Amr Moussa, former minister of foreign affairs for 10 years during Mubarak's reign and former head of the Arab Assembly, and Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last prime minister, appeared around the square with the caption “the revolution enemies will not govern”. As the number of Egyptians started increasing, a police source told Dostor website that no police or army forces will be present to secure the square, calling it the “job of those who called for the protest”. The unnamed source said that the forces will remain around the square, stationed outside the ministry of interior, foreign embassies and other vital buildings outside of the assembly points.
