CAIRO - The head of Egypt's ruling military council, Hussein Tantawi, visited Tahrir Square in central Cairo on Friday hours before a controversial demonstration by secularists. The visit was the first by Tantawi to the iconic square since former president Hosny Mubarak was ousted in a popular revolt in February. Tantawi toured the square, the centre of the anti-Mubarak protests, and shook hands with passers-by and the military police stationed there, the semi-official newspaper Al-Ahram reported online. Tantawi served as defence minister for years under Mubarak until the former president was forced to step down on February 11. The visit came hours before 30 liberal groups and three Muslim Sufi orders were to gather on the square for a rally which organizers say is aimed at emphasising Egypt's secular identity. Islamists slammed the gathering as divisive. Another similar mass rally is planned for August 19. Security and military troops were deployed Friday across the square in the run-up of the rally that is due to continue until the early hours of Saturday. On July 29, thousands of Islamists flocked to Tahrir and called for an Islamic state to be established in Egypt.
