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Violence flares in Egypt on anniversary of revolution Violence flares in Egypt on anniversary of revolution
(about 4 hours later)
Clashes broke out in several Egyptian cities on Friday, as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the country's Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi – exactly two years after the start of the 2011 revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak.Clashes broke out in several Egyptian cities on Friday, as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the country's Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi – exactly two years after the start of the 2011 revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
By late afternoon the interior ministry estimated that at least 61 civilians and 32 security personnel had been hurt in violence in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez as police fired teargas and protesters pelted them with stones. Street battles erupted in Cairo, Alexandria, the port city of Suez and also in Port Said. Five people were shot dead in Suez, it was reported, and one of the dead was a member of the security forces.
For many on the streets of Cairo there was a painful sense of deja vu. "There's no military dictatorship any more, but there are the beginnings of a theocratic one," argued Karim Abadir, a senior member of the Free Egyptians – a liberal opposition party – who had set up a tent in the centre of Cairo's Tahrir Square. 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.
Hisham Abdel-Latif, another protester, who took part in one of several feeder marches that snaked their way towards Tahrir from the Cairene suburbs, said Egyptians were "now ruled by a gang that is exactly the same as the Mubarak gang, except they now have beards". By evening the interior ministry estimated that at least 280 civilians and 55 security personnel had been hurt in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez as police fired teargas and protesters pelted them with stones.
Violence broke out in the early hours of the morning, as police burned down two tents in Tahrir Square. For much of the day, police and hundreds of protesters then took it in turns to lob chunks of rubble over two makeshift walls built to protect the interior ministry from attack. For many on the streets of Cairo there was a painful sense of deja vu. "There's no military dictatorship any more, but there are the beginnings of a theocratic one," said Karim Abadir, a senior member of the Free Egyptians – a liberal opposition party – who had set up a tent in the centre of Tahrir Square.
It's personal, said one of the stone-throwers, Karim Ali, revenge for the protesters killed by police since 2011. "The police are behaving the same as they did during the Mubarak years," said Ali, who carried a slingshot, and a tissue to protect against teargas. Hisham Abdel-Latif, another protester who took part in one of several feeder marches that snaked their way towards Tahrir from the Cairene suburbs, said Egyptians were "now ruled by a gang that is exactly the same as the Mubarak gang, except they now have beards".
President Morsi may be Egypt's first democratically elected president, but many Egyptians fear he has only the interests of Islamists at heart. Violence broke out in the early hours of the morning, as police burned down two tents in Tahrir Square. For much of the day, police and protesters then took it in turns to lob chunks of rubble over two makeshift walls built to protect the interior ministry from attack.
In particular, the opposition was incensed by the way he bypassed judicial protocols in November to ram through a new constitution that the left sees as the first step towards Islamic law. In his defence, Morsi's allies claimed it was a clumsy but well-meant attempt to create long-term democratic stability. One of the stone-throwers, Karim Ali, said it was revenge for the protesters killed by police since 2011. "The police are behaving the same as they did during the Mubarak years," he said.
Many also blame Morsi for failing to tackle Egypt's creaking infrastructure – over 70 Egyptians have died in train accidents since December – and its dire economic predicament: Egypt's foreign reserves have fallen drastically in recent weeks. Morsi may be Egypt's first democratically elected president, but many Egyptians fear he has only the interests of Islamists at heart.
In particular, the opposition was incensed by the way he bypassed judicial protocols in November to push through a new constitution that the left sees as the first step towards Islamic law. In his defence, Morsi's allies claimed it was a clumsy but well-meant attempt to create long-term democratic stability.
Many also blame Morsi for failing to tackle Egypt's creaking infrastructure – over 70 Egyptians have died in train accidents since December – and its dire economic predicament. Foreign reserves have fallen drastically in recent weeks.
"I'm here to get rid of Morsi," said Moustapha Magdi, an unemployed commerce graduate on a march from Giza. "First Mubarak, then Tantawi, now Morsi. We are only ruled by bastards.""I'm here to get rid of Morsi," said Moustapha Magdi, an unemployed commerce graduate on a march from Giza. "First Mubarak, then Tantawi, now Morsi. We are only ruled by bastards."
Magdi criticised Morsi's failure to prosecute members of the military who killed Egyptians during and since the revolution.Magdi criticised Morsi's failure to prosecute members of the military who killed Egyptians during and since the revolution.
"Where are these people? They are outside. They are not in prison. There is no justice," he said."Where are these people? They are outside. They are not in prison. There is no justice," he said.
But the protesters' demands were by no means universal. "Morsi has not been given a chance," said El-Sherbeeni Ahmed Mohammed, a retired financial consultant. "A barren patch of land must be given time to become fertile." According to a recent poll, Morsi's approval ratings rose to 63% in January, and even some protesters were ambivalent about blaming the president himself for the problems besetting Egypt.
"The protests, it's too much. It's stopping the tourists," said Mohammed Gooda, a 43-year-old taxi driver who claimed the constant political instability was driving down business. Tourism is down by 22% since 2010. "For people like me, the constitution is not very important. It is more important that we work and we feed our families." "Morsi has not been given a chance," said El-Sherbeeni Ahmed Mohammed, a retired financial consultant. "A barren patch of land must be given time to become fertile."
According to a recent poll, Morsi's approval ratings rose to 63% in January – and even some protesters were ambivalent about blaming the president himself for the problems besetting Egypt. "The protests, it's too much. It's stopping the tourists," said Mohammed Gooda, a 43-year-old taxi driver who claimed the constant political instability was damaging business. Tourism is down by 22% since 2010. "For people like me, the constitution is not very important. It is more important that we work and we feed our families."
Marching from Giza, 20-year-old Moustapha el-Nahaal gave Morsi his backing, and instead blamed his technocrat ministers. "I want [the prime minister] Hisham Qandil to go, along with all his team," said Nahaal, a 20-year-old commerce student and an activist for Strong Egypt, a moderate Islamist party.Marching from Giza, 20-year-old Moustapha el-Nahaal gave Morsi his backing, and instead blamed his technocrat ministers. "I want [the prime minister] Hisham Qandil to go, along with all his team," said Nahaal, a 20-year-old commerce student and an activist for Strong Egypt, a moderate Islamist party.
"I'm supporting Morsi," said 65-year-old Hossam El-Deeb, a bearded mosque official, and a former political prisoner under Mubarak. "The revolution has achieved a lot in psychological terms," he added, suggesting that it was too early to criticise Morsi for Egypt's dire economic predicament. "I'm supporting Morsi," said 65-year-old Hossam El-Deeb, a bearded mosque official, and former political prisoner under Mubarak. "The revolution has achieved a lot in psychological terms," he added, suggesting that it was too early to criticise Morsi for Egypt's dire economic predicament.
A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood said that violent protests were not constructive at a time when the country needed to pull together. "The country is dying because of malpractice over 30 years of Mubarak's dictatorship," the Brotherhood's Gehad al-Haddad told the Guardian. "Now we have to co-operate, or continue falling down." A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood said that violent protests were not constructive at a time when the country needed to pull together. "The country is dying because of malpractice over 30 years of Mubarak's dictatorship," Gehad al-Haddad told the Guardian. "Now we have to co-operate, or continue falling down."
Elsewhere in Cairo, protesters and supporters of the regime clashed outside an office of the Muslim Brotherhood. There were also clashes in Alexandria, Port Said, and outside the presidential palace in Heliopolis, north-east Cairo. Elsewhere in Cairo, protesters and supporters of the regime clashed outside a Muslim Brotherhood office. There was also violence in Port Said and outside the presidential palace in Heliopolis.