Askari Kanzu
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- Jan 7, 2011
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Thousands gather for celebrations in Egyptian capital's Tahrir Square to mark the toppling of Hosni Mubarak a week ago.
Last Modified: 18 Feb 2011 11:01 GMT
Thousands of Egyptians have gathered for prayers for what has been billed as a "victory march" through Cairo's Tahrir Square to mark the overthrow of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak a week ago.
The groups that sparked the 18-day revolt that led to Mubarak's downfall are calling the day the "Friday of Victory and Continuation,'' a name that reflects both their pride in forcing a change in national leadership and their worries about the future.
They planned to flood the centre of Cairo wearing white, while Mubarak supporters said they would march in black to "apologise" for his ousting and honour his achievements.
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The aim of the pro-democracy march was to keep the upbeat spirit of the earlier protests alive, and some flag-draped protesters in Cairo clapped or played musical instruments as they waited for the prayers to begin.
For the first time since he was banned from leading weekly Friday prayers in Egypt 30 years ago, prominent Muslim scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi lead thousands in the weekly prayers from Tahrir Square on Friday.
The Coalition of the Revolution Youth, which groups pro-democracy movements that helped launch the revolt, called for the gathering to "remember the martyrs of freedom and dignity and justice". At least 365 people were killed and 5,500 more injured in the protests, according to Egypt's health ministry.
Pro-Mubarak mobs attacked pro-democracy protesters and targeted journalists from numerous international news outlets throughout the uprising.
Pro-democracy activists are also seeking an investigation into the deaths during the uprising, a lifting of the decades-old emergency law, and support for the pay strikes that have surged around the country.
"We are going today to commemorate the martyrs and in doing so we are awaiting justice," Mohammed Waked, a protest organiser, said.
"If those detained during the protests are not released, let alone the older political prisoners, it would be a bad sign," he said. "It would show the army is not sincere about political reforms."
Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies
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