CAIRO: Protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square are beginning to clash on and off, with a number of rocks being thrown at opposing factions of demonstrators on Friday afternoon. According to activists, supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood attacked a group of protesters in front of the main stage in the square and are, as of 2 PM, taking down the stage. The initial surge of violence has somewhat subsided, but the tension in the square remains high as rocks continue to be thrown sporadically. Earlier, shortly after noon prayers, scuffles broke out between supporters of President Mohamed Morsi and those who demand more from his government. While relative calm exists in most of the square's areas as many protesters attempt to calm demonstrators, clashes and unrest continues on the outskirts of the square. Tens of thousands of protesters have already descended on Tahrir Square in what activists have dubbed the day to “fulfill the revolution" after they believed the government of new President Morsi is not doing enough to ensure the gains of the uprising that ousted longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 are being upheld. But it also comes a day after a Cairo court acquitted top former regime officials of culpability in the infamous Camel Battle during the 18 days. The acquittals have sparked widespread anger and frustration, leading to more and more heading to Tahrir to voice their concerns over the country's state of affairs. According to a joint statement published on Saturday, 21 secular political parties and organizations will band together for the October 12 demonstration. According to the state-run al-Ahram newspaper, the groups include the Constitution Party led by Mohamed ElBaradie, the April 6 Movement Democratic Front, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Al-Tagammu Party and the Popular Current headed by Hamdeen Sabahi, who was third in last summer's presidential election. “We are going to continue to have our voices heard on the streets and bring people together," April 6′s downtown Cairo Coordinator Ahmed Habashi told Bikyamasr.com earlier in the week. The protest aims to voice their opposition to President Morsi's policies, the Muslim Brotherhood – of which Morsi came out of – and the rise of the ultra-conservative Salafists, or Islamic puritans, who the activists and parties argue are taking too much power in the new constitution. It comes as tension is rising across the country. Doctors are on strike, teachers are protesting and the economic situation facing millions of Egyptians continues to worsen. The protest organizers aim to rekindle the revolutionary spirit that galvanized Egypt to remove the yoke of Hosni Mubarak in January 2011, and create what they say is “a country for all Egyptians."
