Tahrir Square Attracts Huge Crowds For 'Day Of Departure'

[Turborama]

Run time: 02:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQsaE4Niie4   Posted on YouTube: February 04, 2011 By YouTube Member: Naskeleng Views on YouTube: 2   Posted on DU: February 04, 2011 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 559

 
Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters have again packed Cairo's central square, waving Egyptian flags, singing the national anthem and calling on President Hosni Mubarak to go.

Billed as a "day of depature" rally, a reference to demands that Mubarak leave today, the gathering at Tahrir Square was the biggest since Tuesday, when at least a quarter of million people turned out.

A cleric at prayers in the square said: "We want the head of the regime removed," and praised the "revolution of the young". Chants of "Leave! Leave! Leave!" and "Today is the last day" swelled from the throng. One banner read "Game over" in English.

The protesters passed through military checkpoints apparently designed to keep away pro-Mubarak demonstrators, whose presence triggered violent clashes for two days. The defence minister, Hussein Tantawi, and senior army officials visited the square before Friday prayers and soldiers were checking IDs and performing body searches, a sign that Egypt's most powerful institution was sanctioning the demonstration.

Human chains of protesters performed secondary searches inside the square.

"We are not going to leave until our demands are fulfilled," protesters chanted from a bank of speakers in the middle of Tahrir, as Tantawi spoke to the army at the northern entrance near the Egyptian museum.

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/04/cairo-tahrir-day-of-departure-protests?CMP=twt_fd

[Charleston Chew]

1. Egypt's Facebook Face Off

For over 27 years President Mubarak has ruled with an iron fist. With protests sweeping across Egypt, activists are finding new ways to fight for democracy, finding a voice through Facebook.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x550381

[Turborama]

2. Thanks, I sent it to the greatest. n/t

[pdsimdars]

3. Good on the Army

At the end they said that the Army appeared to be keeping the so-called pro-Mubarak people out. That's why it was so peaceful. Good for them.