EGYPT: Tens of thousands of Egyptians continue to protest after Friday prayers in Tahrir Square, demanding reforms and the swift prosecution of former officials from Hosni Mubarak's toppled government

Record ID: 1494859

  • Title: EGYPT: Tens of thousands of Egyptians continue to protest after Friday prayers in Tahrir Square, demanding reforms and the swift prosecution of former officials from Hosni Mubarak's toppled government
  • Date: 9th July 2011
  • Summary: MBANDAKA, ECUATORIAL PROVINCE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (APRIL 12, 2010) (REUTERS) SECURITY AT MBANDAKA AIRPORT GATES AIRPORT TOWER SPANISH AMBASSADOR, FELIX COSTALES, ARRIVING AT AIRPORT PEOPLE ON A BOAT RIVER AND VILLAGE KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (APRIL 13, 2009) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO MINISTER OF INFORMATION LAMBE
  • Embargoed: 23rd July 2011 23:29
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt, Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAHMUZ9M47FCJ8KGV2TQ9857PJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday (July 8) demanding faster reforms and the swifter prosecution of former officials from Hosni Mubarak's toppled government who face corruption and murder charges.
    Thousands gathered in the square that was the epicenter of the Egyptian revolution that toppled Mubarak in February from the early hours of the morning, with their numbers growing throughout the day in advance of Friday prayers.
    Large protests are also taking place today in the port city of Alexandria and in Suez.
    Most political groups and parties including the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's most organised political grouping, backed calls for the protest to be staged across Egypt.
    There has been rising anger amongst pro-reform groups over the release this week from prison of officers accused of killing protesters and innocent verdicts in the corruption trials of former ministers.
    More than 840 people were killed in the 18-days leading up to Mubarak's ouster after police used rubber bullets, live ammunition, tear gas and batons against demonstrators.
    Egyptians call those who died in the protests "martyrs".
    One woman, Manal, who took part in the demonstration on Friday said that none of the reforms sought by the revolution had come to fruition.
    "We are protesting today because we have not yet reaped the benefits of the revolution. The things that the revolution was founded on have not been realised. The president has not been tried. Economic life has not begun to develop. Nor have the martyrs been given their rights. The situation is static. There is laziness, and no real efforts have been made to achieve the aims of the revolution," she said.
    Another protester Atef Mohamed Hamza, told of his anger at Mubarak who is yet to brought to trial.
    "We want a public trial so that the people can see it. And we need all the symbols of corruption from the old regime to be brought here and to have a public trial. They are now staying in Tora prison, in a seven star hotel. They said Mubarak will have his trial in August, and then next month they will postpone it again, and say, 'okay, we'll do it next year'. So why all of these delays?" said Atef Hamza.
    Groups organising today's demonstration, one of the largest in recent months, said they have a number of demands for Egypt's ruling Military Council and the interim government.
    One of them, the Coalition of the Youth of the Revolution, listed demands including calling for police officers who have used violence against protesters to be fired and the resignation of officials in the new government who have failed to deliver on their revolutionary promises. It also called for an end to trials of civilians in military courts.
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