CAIRO: Egypt's Tourism Minister Hisham Zazou said on Monday that five ministers, including himself, have submitted their "justified" resignations to Prime Minster Hisham Kandil. Communication and Information Technology Minister Atef Helmy, Environmental Affairs Minister Khaled Fahmy, Utilities Minister Abdel Qawy Khalifa and Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Minister Hatem Bagato were the other ministers who submitted their resignations on Sunday, reported the state news agency. Zazou added that the PM will convene the resigned ministers shortly, but they are not considering retreating their decisions. Mass demonstrations swept Egypt on Sunday calling for the removal of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. Despite fears of violence and reports of Muslim Brotherhood supporters wielding shields and weapons, the opposition forces have come together in what many are describing as the most momentous day since the 18 days of protests ousted former dictator Hosni Mubarak. Last year on this day, the main Tahrir Square in central Cairo was ablaze with joy after Morsi had beaten former Mubarak top official Ahmed Shafik in a closely fought election. The military was gone and Egypt appeared heading toward stability, but that has changed dramatically in the 12 months since Morsi took control, with the Muslim Brotherhood and conservative Islamists attempting to take over the country and, in what activists have repeatedly told Bikyanews.com "want to Islamize the country without our consent." But on Sunday, thousands are saying enough, backed by the Tamarod, or "Rebel", movement, who garnered over 22 million signatures calling for the end of Morsi's tenure. The number of signees is much higher than the number of votes earned by Morsi in last year's election, but Morsi has been defiant in defense in recent days, refusing any criticism and even blaming the country's ills on dead people in a speech last Wednesday. Activists online are urging others to leave their homes and join protests wherever they are, whether in Cairo or other cities across the country. People are responding. But the mood is tense and fears continue to grip many across the Arab world's largest country. "My family is scared for me and they worry that there will be violence and killing," one activist told Bikyanews.com on Saturday. All this comes on the heels of a week of turmoil, one in which the fears of Civil War were broached by the world's leading Sunni institution. Al Azhar, the largest and most respected Sunni institution in the world, has warned about civil war breaking out in Egypt on Saturday. "We should stay alert so we don't slip into civil war, that will not distinguish between pro and anti," said the Al Azhar head office in a statement released on Saturday. Tamarod, along with other opposition groups were accused by the ruling party, the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Brotherhood, of launching an attack on one of their headquarters that allegedly left one man dead and others injured. For now, Egyptians and the opposition are showing their strength in numbers and have urged all who demonstrate to remain peaceful, saying they will not use force against other Egyptians citizens. BN
