Egyptian demonstrators call for officials to be tried

HUNDREDS OF thousands of Egyptians yesterday poured into Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square and the streets of Alexandria, Suez, Luxor and other cities. They were demanding speedy trials for corrupt officials and policemen accused of slaying 846 protesters during the country’s 18-day uprising.

Demonstrators called for the release of 7,000 activists tried in military courts and reform of the government, judiciary and security forces.

The demonstrations on the “Friday of Determination” were the largest and most widespread since the fall of president Hosni Mubarak in mid-February.

Uprising leader Tareq al-Kholi explained why: “Five months after [his] ouster, we have not achieved our goals.” The Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s most organised political movement, and the Gamaa Islamiya (Islamic Group) took part although they had originally decided to boycott. They could not abstain once young Brotherhood members and an ultra-orthodox Muslim Salafi group announced participation.

Many protesters called for an end to military rule, accusing field marshal Muhammad Hussein Tantawi, who assumed presidential powers after the removal of Mr Mubarak, of dragging his feet on reforms and protecting figures of the ousted regime.

Police and security forces were withdrawn from the streets to avoid clashes following the release on bail of police officers accused of killing protesters in Suez during the uprising and the acquittal of senior Mubarak ministers charged with squandering public money.

In a bid to ease tensions, the public prosecutor was ordered to charge 25 officials with attempted murder and assault for ordering a February 2nd attack on protesters in Tahrir Square by hooligans riding horses and camels.

Elsewhere, in Syria, thousands of demonstrators filled a central square of Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city, which has been surrounded by tanks and checkpoints since last week’s massive rally. Opposition sources claimed that 450,000 attended the Hama event, but this could not be independently verified.

Arrests prompted many to flee the city for fear of a crackdown.

Anti-government activists also took to the streets in Homs, south of Hama, and Deir al-Zor to the east, and Deraa, the southern cradle of the protest movement.

Central Damascus and Aleppo remained quiet. Seven protesters were reported to have been shot dead. Opposition sources say that 1,300 have been killed during over the past four months.

This week’s protests were designated as “No to dialogue”, in a bid to pre-empt government-sponsored talks beginning tomorrow with some opposition figures.

A solidarity visit to Hama by the US and French ambassadors, Robert Ford and Eric Chevallier, angered the Syrian authorities.

Bouthaina Shaaban, political adviser of president Bashar al-Assad, singled out Mr Ford, saying that he had violated an agreement that any travel outside Damascus had to be co-ordinated with the government, as is the case of Syrian ambassadors serving in Washington.

Syrian television accused Mr Ford of incitement and intervening in Syria’s internal affairs.

The government is particularly sensitive about Hama, where the military crushed a revolt by the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood in 1982 and where the Brotherhood still has a strong presence.