- Title: EGYPT: Cairo protesters gather for "Friday of Departure"
- Date: 5th February 2011
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FEBRUARY 4, 2011) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS AT TAHRIR SQUARE CAMPED OUT- SOME SLEEPING, OTHERS SITTING VARIOUS OF MEN SLEEPING MORE PROTESTERS CAMPERS AND TENTS SET UP CLOSE OF MAN SLEEPING IN TAHRIR SQUARE MEN SLEEPING / PILES OF BRICKS MORE OF BRICKS GROUND SHOT OF BRICKS AND MEN WALKING BY VARIOUS OF CAMPERS SLEEPING GROUND SHOT OF BRICKS WITH PROTESTERS WALKING BY BREAD AND EGGS ON BLANKET FOR BREAKFAST FOR A GROUP OF PROTESTERS IN TAHRIR SQUARE MAN EATING TAMIYA AND EXPLAINING TO CAMERA WHAT THEY HAVE TO EAT CLOSE OF BREAD AND TAMIYA GROUPS SITTING AROUND BREAD AND EGGS HAVING BREAKFAST / MAN SAYING THIS BREAD, MUBARAK'S BREAD IS FULL OF SAND ANOTHER GROUP HAVING BREAKFAST MORE OF GROUP HAVING BREAKFAST IN TAHRIR SQUARE
- Embargoed: 20th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt, Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3M98D3L1CBLQINDUTO53J1KDL
- Story Text: Thousands of Egyptian protesters gathered in a central Cairo square on Friday (February 4) to force the immediate resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, in what the crowd dubbed the "Friday of Departure".
Many of the crowd had kept vigil in Tahrir (Liberation) Square overnight, while others pitched tents or slept on the ground, defying calls from the army and the vice president they should go home because their demands had been heard.
As the protests demanding an end to 30 years of Mubarak rule entered their 11th day, the army began removing barricades the protesters had erected after supporters of the president launched a deadly assault on them two days ago that left at least 10 dead and more than 800 wounded.
Organisers called on people to march from wherever they were towards the square, the state television building and the parliament building -- all within a mile of one another.
Mubarak supporters on the main highway from Alexandria blocked cars from entering Cairo to prevent anti-Mubarak protesters from joining the demonstrations, a witness said.
Witnesses in the square said that soon after daybreak six army trucks had pulled up and soldiers begun dismantling a barrier at the northern end, prompting fears of a repeat of Wednesday's (February 2) attack by men throwing petrol bombs, wielding sticks and charging on camels and horses.
Protesters had formed human chains to guard the square and were checking the bags and identification cards of people as they entered to keep out pro-Mubarak supporters.
Protesters said barbed wire had been put out at all 12 entrance points to the square. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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