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Subscribe to RSSThousands of anti-government protesters gathered in Tahrir Square to mark the 2011 uprising that led to Egypt's change in power. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
Five people were shot dead in the Egyptian city of Suez during nationwide protests against President Mohamed Morsi on Friday, the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
One of the dead was a member of the security forces, medics said. Another 280 civilians and 55 security personnel were injured, officials said, in demonstrations fueled by anger at the president and his Islamist allies in the Muslim Brotherhood.
Thousands of opponents of Morsi massed in Cairo's Tahrir Square - the cradle of the revolt against Mubarak - to rekindle the demands of a revolution they say has been hijacked by Islamists who have betrayed its goals.
Street battles erupted in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and Port Said. Arsonists attacked at least two state-owned buildings as symbols of government were targeted. An office used by the Muslim Brotherhood's political party was also torched.
The Jan. 25 anniversary laid bare the divide between the Islamists and their secular rivals.
This schism is hindering the efforts of Morsi, elected in June, to revive an economy in crisis and reverse a plunge in Egypt's currency by enticing back investors and tourists.
Inspired by the popular uprising in Tunisia, Egypt's revolution spurred further revolts across the Arab world. But the sense of common purpose that united Egyptians two years ago has given way to internal strife that had already triggered bloody street battles last month.
"Our revolution is continuing. We reject the domination of any party over this state. We say no to the Brotherhood state," Hamdeen Sabahy, a popular leftist leader, told Reuters.
PhotoBlog: Protesters fill Tahrir Square on anniversary of Egyptian revolution
Ed Giles / Getty Images
An Egyptian protester runs with a live tear gas canister during clashes with riot police around Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday.
The Brotherhood decided against mobilizing for the anniversary, wary of the scope for more conflict after December's violence, stoked by Morsi's decision to fast-track an Islamist-tinged constitution rejected by his opponents.
The Brotherhood denies accusations that it is seeking to dominate Egypt, labeling them a smear campaign by its rivals.
Death in Suez
There were conflicting accounts of the lethal shooting in Suez. Some witnesses said security forces had opened fire in response to gunfire from masked men.
News of the deaths capped a day of violence which started in the early hours. Before dawn in Cairo, police battled protesters who threw petrol bombs and firecrackers as they approached a wall blocking access to government buildings near Tahrir Square.
Clouds of tear gas filled the air. At one point, riot police used one of the incendiaries thrown at them to set ablaze at least two tents erected by youths, a Reuters witness said.
Yuka Tachibana / NBC News
A boy is draped in the Egyptian flag as protesters gather in Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday. Despite clashes around the square, the atmosphere inside was festive at times.
Skirmishes between stone-throwing youths and the police continued in streets around the square into the day. Ambulances ferried away a steady stream of casualties.
Protesters echoed the chants of 2011's historic 18-day uprising. "The people want to bring down the regime," they chanted. "Leave! Leave! Leave!" chanted others as they marched towards the square.
"We are not here to celebrate but to force those in power to submit to the will of the people. Egypt now must never be like Egypt during Mubarak's rule," said Mohamed Fahmy, an activist.
There were similar scenes in Suez and Alexandria, where protesters and riot police clashed near local government offices. Black smoke billowed from tires set ablaze by youths.
In Cairo, police fired tear gas to disperse a few dozen protesters trying to remove barbed-wire barriers protecting the presidential palace, witnesses said. A few masked men got as far as the gates before they were beaten back.
Tear gas was also fired at protesters who tried to remove metal barriers outside the state television building.
Outside Cairo, protesters broke into the offices of provincial governors in Ismailia and Kafr el-Sheikhin the Nile Delta. A local government building was torched in the Nile Delta city of al-Mahalla al-Kubra.
Badie calls for 'serious competition'
With an eye on parliamentary elections likely to begin in April, the Brotherhood marked the anniversary with a charity drive across the nation. It plans to deliver medical aid to one million people and distribute affordable basic foodstuffs.
Writing in Al-Ahram, Egypt's flagship state-run daily, Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badiesaid the country was in need of "practical, serious competition" to reform the corrupt state left by the Mubarak era.
Asmaa Waguih / Reuters
On the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, hundreds of youths clash with police.
"The differences of opinion and vision that Egypt is passing through is a characteristic at the core of transitions from dictatorship to democracy, and clearly expresses the variety of Egyptian culture," he wrote.
Morsi's opponents say he and his group are seeking to dominate the post-Mubarak order. They accuse him of showing some of the autocratic impulses of the deposed leader by, for example, driving through the new constitution last month.
"I am taking part in today's marches to reject the warped constitution, the 'Brotherhoodisation'of the state, the attack on the rule of law, and the disregard of the president and his government for the demands for social justice," Amr Hamzawy, a prominent liberal politician, wrote on his Twitter feed.
The Brotherhood says its rivals are failing to respect the rules of the new democracy that put the Islamists in the driving seat via free elections.
Six months into office, Morsi is also being held responsible for an economic crisis caused by two years of turmoil. The Egyptian pound has sunk to record lows against the dollar.
The parties that called for Friday's protests list demands including a complete overhaul of the constitution.
Critics say the constitution, which was approved in a referendum, offers inadequate protection for human rights, grants the president too many privileges and fails to curb the power of a military establishment supreme in the Mubarak era.
Morsi'ssupporters say enacting the constitution quickly was crucial to restoring stability needed for economic recovery.
Related:
PhotoBlog: Egypt riot police set fire to protest tents in Tahrir Square, witness says
Egyptians fear decades of Muslim Brotherhood rule, warn Morsi is no friend to US
'Egypt is free,' crowds cheer after Mubarak quits
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
Leave a Comment:
Jumping from the frying pan into the fire. They merely switched one dictator for another one who is even worse. Even the most "democratized" country never really attains true democracy, due to the influence of money.
Sign in Cairo's Tahrir Square: 'Obama you jerk, Muslim Brotherhoods are killing the Egyptians'
Thousands of Egyptians are gathering in Cairo's Tahrir Square today to mark the second anniversary of the uprising. One protester slammed President Obama, calling him an "idiot" and "jerk" for cozying up to the Muslim Brotherhood while the MB is "killing the Egyptians."
No More Tax....I have already posted this once before, but the authors of that banner were asked to write it by the foreign press. The Copts and some of the liberals have asked them to take it down. I live in Heliopolis and many of my friends were in the Square. While there are questions regarding Pres. Obama (many based on rumor), there is a great deal of respect for America and Americans.
A little more information for you regarding this issue. My friends in the Square say that the kids told them the people who paid them to write the banner had foreign press passes, looked European, and paid them quite a bit of money to do it. Some people are saying that the banner is still up while some others say it was taken down. We probably will know more in the morning. I hope this helps you. In kind regards.
drjill
Thanks didn't know that, Seems the Press has turned to opinions instead of reporting the news, someone needs to pay these banner makers to point out who put them up to this, because they are guilty of causing the murder of those People on Thursday and Friday.
Ed-2113954 Yes I think you are correct about the Press issue. Many are calling for the foreign press to be removed or kicked out as they did during the Revolution. I am not too sure if I disagree with them. The press has a tendency to stir things up, be culturally disrespectful, or downright rude. For every negative report there are at least 10 to 15 stories of kindness that are not being reported. The Egyptians are being told that "Good news does not sell in America". They are also being told that Americans want drama. The Egyptians are a naturally passionate and dramatic culture to begin with so they do not need too much to encouragement. I have not heard anything about the sign/banner so cannot say whether or not it is still being displayed. I apologize for not knowing more or being able to provide a bit more information for you.
In kind regards.
Till now it took a couple of years for every Egypt Umemployees to become TV-Stars in US TV.
Palestinian Umemployees are TV-Stars in US TV since 45 years.
Why Egypt elected a Muslim Brotherhood leader is beyond belief!!
Now they have to deal with things they didn't want to deal with (strict Muslim laws) and their women are totally screwed.
I see rough waters ahead for a long time unless they all turn into Muslim sheeples..... :(
This is not a good move. What are our leaders thinking? F16s to the Muslim Brotherhood? You have to be kidding!
Wake up - obama is not african ameican, he is muslim, why do you think he did it.
Excerpt from "Johnathan" - Do Egyptians want a carbon copy of rule of House of Saud in Saudi Arabia? There will be few ruling class and rest will be slaves!
Sounds like what the current muslim terrorist president is turning us into.
I went from making $52,000 per year to $24,000, and now this year more taxes coming out.
Wake up people, it is time to save our country from the current socialist president the majority of the uninformed voters put back in.
Obama and Hillary should be over in Egypt celebrating their great achievement with their allies in the Muslim Brotherhood.
Morsi and his muslum brotherhood which backs all terrorist groups, and which has no freedoms for his people, they hate everyone who are not muslums including the US, and we are giving them new jets and tanks, what in the world are we doing.
No worries Field Marshall Obama is planning on a cruise missle attack.
Once he has fired off a few BILLION dollars of ordanance he will declare that there will be no ground troops involved, we have done everything we could do and he will be hailed a hero by ABC, CBS, NBC PBS, MSNBC, & CNN.
Five killed in Suez. How many more do we have to go?
Perhaps we just invade and let 4000 Americans die like our last president did with a crises in a Muslim country.
Anyone want to pay the taxes for that?
Didn't think so
With the direction Obama is steering us those 4,000 deaths may pale in comparison.
Muslims can be so cuckoo. Let's send our female US infantry over there to straighten them out.
And all of them Virgins with M16s. Rock and Roll. And having their period.
At least the females will cost taxpayers 75 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts.
Or maybe we just don't invade foreign countries
It does cost money you know.
It cost me friends in Viet Nam.
All I have to say to Isreal is get ready to nuke some towelheads. Enjoy, I know I will.
Costs a lot.
Maybe we should let countries do what they will.
As long as they pose no threat to us.
Yeah, but its more fun to arm our enemies first.
These animals are incapable of self governance.
Insanity, Doing the samething over and over again and expecting difference results. Albert Einstein. Good job Obama
I always find it interesting when certain people hate others for some infraction from the past, but their memory is limited ands selective as to the terrible things they have done to others.
The Muslims Hate Israel for reasons dating back to the time of Abraham when God told Abraham that the lands of Canaan were the exclusive property of Jews, his chosen people. Abraham went to Canaan and found that there were people already living there so a type of border war lasted over a great span of time. His presence there ended until Moses came to re-claim the land for the Jews, afterall God cannot lie.
However, The Muslims and the later Ottoman Empire are recorded to have murdered millions as the swaths of huge armies swept across the land like Locust.
Why is this relevant today?
The Jews were treated badly in history because they fell out of favor with the Romans and thus throughout history.
The Muslims though were not only tolerated but through European intervention was preserved and sustained as an Empire until it was finally allowed to die after WW1. The remnants of the empire is scattered throughout the Mediterranean where they competed with Greeks for scraps of land and in Turkey and the Eastern Block countries where the Muslims were finally throttled by the non-muslim military. But the fact is that because they were historical enemies of Russia, the west supported them.
History is boring to some, but if learned and applied to todays events, we can see the same trends. The Brotherhood is the new version of an old group of Extreme Muslims who during the Ottoman Empire actually walked into the palaces and strangled the Royal rulers with Bow strings and their bare hands while the rulers simply stood there to die. Why, the survivors of the family could survive if they promised to be good Muslims.
The only way for the revolution to survive is to kill or otherwise remove the Muslims and Brotherhood. But like our own conservative right they use the koran/Bible to claim "God's Will" for their actions. People who are religious are superstitous about things like that. When you see a black cat cross your path does it bother you in some hidden part of your brain? The difference is that theirs is not in a hidden part of the brain because they execute people for sinning in the street and take time to draw a crowd so that everyone will know that God's Work is for everyone.
Lazarus
I'm not sure what God you believe in, but mine says blessed are the peacemakers. The biggest problem is humans that don't pay attention.
They also say that if you don't believe in God. he will send you to hell to burn for the rest of your life. (but he loves you) God is the good in you nothing more. organized Religions are the curse of the world. And is God a he, can you see why women do not get the respect they deserve. Some Men and their illusions of grandeur.
Forget the "Arab Spring". What we are witnessing is an "Arab Nuclear Winter". The Middle East will never recover. There will be muslims killing muslims for eons. Egypt, which was extremely dependent on tourism and is a ghost of its former self. The old saying echos; "It's better to keep the devil you know rather than the devil you don't"
Breaking news!!! Fresh violance in Egypt, when has it ever stopped?
Bottom Line...Be Careful what you Wish for!!! And as In our case, Be Careful what you Vote for!!!
Prepare yourself, America, for you are next.
bring it!
they have their problems,and we have ours and no body can do anything to stop it.
This just plays into the islamists hands. The more the folks raise hell the more they will crack down and take away more freedoms. Hopefully they will get busy killing each other.
Let the real revolution begin! Out with the Muslim Brotherhood and Obama's puppet Morsi!
I feel sorry for the Egyptian people who want true democracy... they will never get it if
things keep going the way they are....
The F-16s and military tanks that our incompetent government leaders insisted on giving to Egypt will only be turned on the Egyptian citizens. I envision an Egyptian revolution just like the one in Syria.