Egypt

Update: Protests continue demanding Mubarak retrial, Shafiq removal

Hundreds of Egyptians continued to protest Monday in Cairo and other governorates against the verdict issued against ousted President Hosni Mubarak and his former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly.

Demonstrators also demanded that the political isolation law be applied to runoff presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's former prime minister.

Three marches joined protesters in Tahrir Square coming from the Shubra, Dar al-Qadaa al-Ali, and Agouza neighborhoods of Cairo.

The Dar al-Qadaa al-Ali march was joined by members of Ultras Ahlawy who chanted, “The people want purge the judiciary,” and “No to feloul (remnants of the collapsed regime),” in reference to Ahmed Shafiq.

The march from Shubra neighborhood was joined by imams from Al-Azhar, as well as members of April 6 Youth Movement.  

The Zamalek Ultras White Nights participated in the Agouza district march, demanding that Mubarak be retried.

Chanting, "We students are with the workers, united against capitalism," some 200 Cairo University students marched to Tahrir Square. Protesters demanded revenge for the deaths of the martyrs, the retrial of the Mubarak and the other defendants, and Shafiq’s ouster from the presidential race.

"The verdict of Mubarak's case shows that nothing has changed. It is a farce," said Abdel Rahman Farouk, a student who took part in the march.

"The law of political isolation must be applied to Shafiq, who was Mubarak's right hand. His regime must be held accountable. We must speed up the formation of a civilian presidential council, because the Egyptian people are on the threshold of a second revolution," Farouk added.

Three marches took place in Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt, with nearly 250 people rallying in Minya City before reaching Palace Square. Another 150 protested before the court of Maghagha and then took to the streets of the city, while some 300 others gathered outside Abu Khafaja Mosque in Adwa and chanted slogans against the former regime.

Dozens of activists also demonstrated in front of Daqahlia City Hall this Monday and decided to have an overnight sit-in to protest the verdicts, and to demand the removal of the attorney general, the application of the isolation law, the retrial of Mubarak and the purging of the judiciary.

Demonstrators called on revolutionary forces to mobilize citizens to participate in the “Tuesday of Justice," chanting, "Don't be afraid to say it, SCAF has to go," and "Whoever is silent, why are you still silent? Have you claimed your rights?"

Banners were held bearing Shafiq's image with written slogans declaring, "No leftovers,” "Don't vote for the supervisor of the Battle of the Camel," and, "We haven't forgotten you, martyr. We haven't forgotten Khaled Saeed," in reference to the 2010 death of Khaled Saeed at the hands of police forces, an event that is considered to be a major contributing factor to the 2011 revolution.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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