CAIRO: As political forces and coalitions called for a million-man demonstration today, nicknamed the ‘Friday of Rectification,' many Egyptian governorates participated in their own way. Today's demonstrations was organized around certain demands, including: drafting procedures for Egypt's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, handing over public affairs to a civilian authority and ending military trials of civilians. Demands also included ending the export of Egyptian gas to Israel, expelling the Israeli ambassador from Cairo, amending the Camp David accords. Demonstrators also called to prevent members of the formerly ruling National Democratic Party from participating in politics for five years, returning security to the Egyptian streets and guaranteeing the independence of state institutions, including the Ministry of Interior, universities and the Egyptian media. The protests extended from Cairo's Tahrir Square, the epicenter of Egypt's January uprisid, to Suez, Ismailia, Qena, Alexandria, Sohag, Aswan, Asiut, Fayoum, Minya, Arish, Qalubiya, Sharqia, and Beni Suef. Suez saw some of the greatest participation today. Suez youth used Thursday to prepare techniques to inform citizens of their rights. They presented videos on large screens, talking about the suffering of Suez citizens and their problems. About 500 Suez citizens participated in today's demonstrations. In Ismailia, hundreds of citizens there gathered in el-Horeyya [Freedom] Square, where they participated in the protest and called for the same demands. There were marches from el-Mamar Square to el-Matafy Square. The national forces in Alexandria organized a peaceful march after Friday prayers from outside the Leader Ibrahim Mosque to the north military region in Sidi Gabr. About 5,000 citizens and more than 20 political parties participated in the protest, calling to stop military trials for civilian and to release political prisoners, besides the announced demands of the protest. Some Sohag activists traveled to Cairo to participate in the demonstration in Tahrir Square. Among the Sohag activists were members of April 6, al-Ghad Party's youth union, supporters of Mohamed el-Baradei and Hamdeen Sabbahi, the Sohag Youth Coalition and others. There was also a march from el-Shoban Square in Sohag. Arish in North Sinai was calm today, and the city was empty of protesters after political forces and parties boycotted today's demonstration. In Asiut, tens of protestors participated. They went out in a march after Friday prayers from Khashaba mosque at el-Gomhorreya Street. The march extended around the square, where Al-Ahly and Zamalek football fans joined them. During the march, the demonstrators repeated songs against the Ministry of Interior. In Minya, tens of independent youths, who assured their independence from any political party or trend, organized a solidarity protest with the Tahrir protestors outside the Minya government headquarters. In Sharqia, tens of the Revolution Youth Coalition and different political trends organized a march from el-Fath mosque in Zagazig after Friday prayers. The protestors centralized at the headquarters of the Government, where they announced their support to the demands of Friday of Rectification. Mansoura governorate witnessed hundreds of political activists from different political trends that participated in demonstration after Friday prayers at Nasr mosque. They organized a march heading the government mosque, where they burned the Israeli flag. In Qalubuiya, there was intensive security presence outside police stations, in case of any clashes during the demonstrations. While in Qena, there was weak participation. Only tens of the members of Revolution Youth Coalition participated in Friday of Recertification from el-Mahata Square. In Beni Suef, tens of protestors participated in the protests, where they gathered outside Omar Ibn Abdel Aziz mosque after Friday prayer. Finally, members of al-Wafd Party in Fayoum announced they would not participating in the protest, according to the decision made by the party.
