CAIRO - Revolutionaries – young people and members of political groups – show up in Al Tahrir Square Friday for a mass protest to force the authorities to expedite the trials of ex-regime officials, accused of killing protesters. They also plan to protest against the excessive use of police force against protesters on Tuesday. Youth groups, all formed since the revolution, along with the April 6th Youth Movement, have called on 'honourable' Egyptians to join their protest entitled "Martyrs' Rights Friday”, in order to maintain the momentum of the revolution. "To maintain the rights of those martyred and injured in the January 25 revolution, we call on all honourable Egyptians to join the protest in Al Tahrir, until the revolution's demands are met," read a statement by the Revolution's Youth Coalition. The statement summed up their demands as follows: the dismissal of Interior Ministry officials involved in oppressing protesters, allowing media outlets to attend trials of former regime officials and fulfilling pledges to honour the martyrs and help the injured. "We should remember that the blood of the martyrs was not spilled in vain," the statement added. Pro-democracy activists pitched their tents once again in Cairo's Al Tahrir Square, as they called for political reforms and demanded that officials found guilty of abuse be brought to justice. A few dozen activists, mostly from April 6th Youth Movement, spent a calm night in the Square – the epicentre of protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak in February – after violent clashes in central Cairo that left over 1,000 injured. "We will stay in the Square until guilty police officers are tried," said one of the protesters, who gave his name as Mossaad, as tents were being pitched in the Square, while traffic returned to normal after it was blocked all day on Wednesday. Activists are also calling for a speed trial for former interior minister Habib al-Adly, who is being investigated for ordering the killing of protesters during the January 25 uprising. Clashes had erupted on Tuesday evening between protesters and riot police amid conflicting reports of what exactly sparked the trouble. "We have allocated groups of young activists to protect the protesters, as the police and soldiers are not expected to show up in the Square," read a statement from the April 6th Youth Movement, who urged protesters not to resort to violence. The April 6th Movement – a key pro-democracy group – has called for an open-ended sit-in in Al Tahrir until the goals of the revolution are met. Among the key demands are the trial of officials and police officers in abuse cases before and after the January 25 revolt, an end to military trials of civilians, an inclusive political process and freedom of expression and media. Kefaya protest group, meanwhile, said it would join the protests on July 8, next Friday, in a bid to force the Government and the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to 'straighten the path of the revolution'. For its part, the Muslim Brotherhood said it would not join in such protests which “cause insecurity and chaos across the country and provide a golden opportunity for the counter-revolution to destroy the achievements of the revolution”.
