PHOTO GALLERY: Tahrir mass demonstration on Friday, clashes off Square<http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentMulti/59002/Multimedia.aspx> http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentMulti/59002/Multimedia.aspx
Thousands fill Tahrir on Friday to protest Morsi's new 'dictatorial powers' Zeinab El Gundy, Mostafa Ali, Osman El Sharnoubi, Friday 23 Nov 2012 Mass rally takes place in Tahrir to oppose president Mohamed Morsi's constitutional declaration; violence between protesters and police continue in nearby streets for fifth day By Friday night, the number of the protesters, who began arriving in Tahrir Square for 'Eyes of Freedom' Friday throughout the morning, had reached tens of thousands after rallies from Talaat Harb Street, Shubra, Sayyida Zeinab, and Mustafa Mahmoud Square in Giza reached Tahrir. While many protesters had started leaving the square, others were just arriving. For one, Ultras football fans arrived in torrents at sundown, adding thousands to the square. Protesters chanted The people want to topple the regime, Do not be afraid, Morsi has to leave, and Down with the Brotherhoods Supreme Guide. Over 30 opposition political groups took part in the protest. Their demands include the dismissal of Morsi's cabinet, prosecuting police officers responsible for killing and injuring protesters, and a purge and restructuring of the police. However, a new Constitutional Declaration announced by president Mohamed Morsi on Thursday altered the focus of the expected rallies. The declaration gained the ire of liberal and leftist forces across the country who charge that the president has awarded himself dictatorial powers since the new rules stipulate that no presidential decision taken since 30 June when he assumed office can be appealed. The declaration also angered many Egyptians since it shields the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly and Shura Council (upper house of parliament) from possible dissolution by pending court orders. On the march to Tahrir from Mostafa Mahmoud mosque in the Mohandessin district, the ten thousand strong protesters haunted the Muslim Brotherhood and president Morsi with chants over the 5 mile route. "Keep selling out the revolution, Badie," the chanters targeted the Supreme Guide of the Brotherhood. "Down with Mohamed Morsi Mubarak," the chanters liked the current president's performance to that of the ousted dictator. "Bread, freedom, and down with the Constituent Assembly." However, along the route, news that Amr Moussa, a former Mubarak foreign minister and a 2012 presidential contender, had joined the rallies sparked anger from many protesters and led to skirmishes between some revolutionary youth and other Moussa supporters on the march. "We say No to both the Brotherhood and people like Moussa who are remnants of the corrupt regime," Haitham Mohameddain of the Revolutionary Socialists, carried on shoulders by a fellow protester, appealed to the crowds. As news arrived that Moussa was not leading the march and that he might have left altogether, the tense situation was diffused and the crowd returned to think of a next chant against Morsi. Back in Tahrir Square, Ramdan Abul-Azam, 40, told Ahram Online: [Morsi's] decisions are shocking. Now he has all the power and he insists on keeping the Constituent Assembly even though we reject it. We had to protest in Tahrir Square. The declaration incriminates President Morsi, said Mahmoud Mohamed, 70, from Upper Egypt. The Brotherhood took over the revolution and I urge them to take the Salafists with them on a trip to the Cape of Good Hope in order to learn about human rights in Islam. Clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud Street between protesters and Central Security Forces (CSF) continued for a fifth day. Protesters accused CSF of using gunshots, tear gas and rocks. Young protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails. Several protesters were injured, mostly suffering from head injuries. One protester, Salah Gaber, was killed. Small rallies entered the street from time to time chanting anti-Brotherhood slogans and Ultras songs. In Mohamed Mahmoud Street, an emotional Ahmed Mounir, 15, told Ahram Online that his brother was injured in last years Mohamed Mahmoud clashes and had to have his leg amputated. I have been in the square for three days now. I want to secure my brothers rights and I dont care if I live or die, he said. More intense clashes continued in Qasr El-Aini Street right off the square between protesters and security forces well into the night. Ultras fans joined hundreds of others engaging in skirmishes with the police, braving tear-gas and throwing stones at the forces based deeper along the street. At one point earlier in the afternoon an armoured police vehicle was set afire by the protesters. During the afternoon, some protesters formed a human shield between CSF and protesters on Qasr El-Aini Street in a failed attempt to prevent further violence. Barbed-wire barricade were set up earlier by security forces, but that did not work to stop the clashes either. Tens of protesters were ferried on motorcycles to the field hospital set up in the square after suffering suffocation from teargas and stone injuries. "We were protesting peacefully as we usually do, but as soon as we approached the police they started attacking us," Ahmed Hamido, a protester suffering from the effects of tear gas said. "God willing we will remove Morsi as we did Mubarak," he told Ahram Online. Two tents were set up in Tahrir Square by the Constitution Party and the Popular Current but there are no reported plans for a sit-in. Parties will deliberate on next steps after protest. "We will evaluate the situation and see whether there will be a sit-in or not, parties will meet at the end of the day to discuss our future actions," Emad Attiya, a founding member of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party told Ahram Online. Some of the rallies were led by political figures such as veteran socialist Kamel Khalil, and Socialist Popular Alliance Party leader Abdel-Ghafr Shukr. The Popular Current, the Constitution Party, the liberal Wafd Party,April 6 (Democratic Front), Revolutionary Socialists and the Social Democratic Party also took part in the rallies. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/58994.aspx Live Updates 2: Rival protests across Egypt, fierce fighting near Tahrir Salma Shukrallah, Bel Trew, Nada Rashwan, Ahmed Feteha, Friday 23 Nov 2012 Thousands still chant in Tahrir against brotherhood, street battles between police and protesters continue near Square, tens of pro-Morsi supporters remain at presidential palace Ahram Online concludes its live-update coverage of the intense demonstrations of 23 November. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19:48 Thousands continue to chant against the president in Tahrir. 19:36 Prime Minister Hisham Qandil holds urgent meeting with ministers of Interior and Defence, Pan-Arab news network Al-Arabiya reports. 19:14 Protesters form human shield around the field hospital located in Qasr Al-Aini street intersection with Tahrir Square. Several demonstrators were rushed to the field hospital to be treated from suffocations caused by tear gas thrown by CSF as clashes continue. 18:50 Ahram Arabic news website reports clashes between pro and anti-Morsi protesters in eight governorates throughout the day. According to Ahram, clashes erupted in the governorates of Alexandria, Ismailia, Assiut, Port-Said, Suez, Mahalla, Damietta, Menya, Aswan.## 18:34 Five injured in clashes between Morsi supporters and opponents in the Nile Delta governorate of Daqahilya, reports Egyptian satellite channel ONTV. 18:30Read Ahram Online's overview of President Morsi's speech to supporters at the presidential palace this afternoon 18:20 Protesters shield the Scientific Institute which was burnt down during last years clashes near the Cabinet building, resulting in the loss of hundreds of books. 18:05The Ultras, hardcore football fans, are now leading the skirmishes with the security forces on Qasr Al-Aini Street, says Ahram Online reporter on the scene. 18:00 On Tahrir Square, Ahram Online reporter Osman El-Sharnoubi says protesters travelled to the square from across Egypt. "Morsi said he will deal with protesters firmly, this is exactly what Mubarak said before, says Mahmoud El-Banna, from Upper Egyptian city of Beni Soueif. 17:55If you want find out what sparked today's protests, check out Ahram Online's English language version of Thursday's Constitional Declarationhere 17:50Pan-Arab news network Al-Arabiya report that the former prosecutor-general Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud, who was dismissed following a change in his role's term length, will contest the president's declaration in the Court of Cassation. 17:45Despite Ahram Online journalists reporting heavy use of tear gas and live footage on several TV channels of the toxic clouds, a security official denies to Al-Ahram Arabic news website that police are firing teargas at protesters.## 17:44 Back to the presidential palace in Heliopolis, Ahram Online journalist reports calmer scenes. After performing the Maghreb (sundown) prayers, thousands of Morsi supporters have started to leave. 17:42Health Ministry spokesperson, Ahmed Omar, announces that 18 people have been injured today in Tahrir Square. All have been transferred to the Coptic hospital in downtown. 17:41Moving East, dozens are demonstrating in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh against Morsis Declaration, Al-Ahram Arabic language news website reports. Protesters include members of April 6 Youth Movement and the Constitution Party. 17:30In reaction to President Morsi's latest Constitutional Declaration the European Union released a statement urging the president to respect the "democratic process." "It is of utmost importance that the democratic process be completed in accordance with the commitments undertaken by the Egyptian leadership," a spokesman for Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, said in a statement. Morsi must ensure the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, the protection of fundamental freedoms and the holding of democratic parliamentary elections "as soon as possible," said the spokesman, Michael Mann. 17:25Still on Tahrir Square, amid plumes of tear gas, Ahram Online reporter Osman El-Sharnoubi gets the lowdown from opposition protesters. Today is a very good start for the process of resisting the Constitutional Declaration, or what we call a coup. We are yet to evaluate our options to plan our next move, says Emad Attiya, a founding member of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, which was one of the groups behind Friday's rally. Ahmed Hamid, a demonstrator suffering from the effects of tear gas, told Ahram Online that he was protesting peacefully when he approached the police who started firing at them and chasing the protesters in their armoured vehicles. God willing, we will bring down Morsi, he adds. 17:20Thousands of Ultras enter Tahrir Square while chanting their protest songs, reports Ahram Online Osman El-Sharnoubi.## 17:15Good afternoon - we return to dramatic scenes near Cairo's Tahrir Square, where Central Security Forces armored vehicles are charging protesters on Qasr Al-Aini Street, driving groups back to the flashpoint square. Molotov cocktails and tear gas canisters are launched back and forth. Clashes continue to overshadow the mass rally on Tahrir Square protesting President Morsi's surprise Constitutional Declaration released Thursday, while on the other side of the capital thousands of the president's supporters remain at the presidential palace in Heliopolis. Over 30 opposition political groups are behind Friday's protests, which were initially called to commemorate the year anniversary of Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes. Their demands include the dismissal of Morsi's cabinet, prosecuting police officers responsible for killing and injuring protesters and a purge and restructuring of Egypt's national police force. However, the new declaration, which gave the president sweeping authorities, changed the focus of the rallies and lead commentators to dub Morsi the "new Pharaoh." Signatories to the statement included the Constitution Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Free Egyptians Party, the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, the Democratic Front Party, the Egypt Freedom Party, the Egyptian Popular Current and the National Association for Change. For a blow-by-blow account of the morning's events, see our earlier live update coverage here http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/58992.aspx [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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