Egypt celebrates first anniversary of Jan 25 revolution

One year on, and the Egyptian revolution has a long way to go Cairo – Akram Ali Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) have established an operation room to follow the developments in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and other squares in Egypt where Egyptians have gathered to celebrate the first anniversary of the January 25 Revolution and protest against the SCAF, calling for power to be handed over to civilians.
According to Egypt’s state media, SCAF head Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi was following the developments from an operation room in the Defence Ministry headquarters.
Tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square under rainy skies on Wednesday to mark the turning point of an uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule over the country. Some gathered to celebrate while others to protest against the military council.
Tahrir Square witnessed a huge number of Islamists who were celebrating the changes achieved in the revolution and their winning in the first parliamentary elections. Thousand of Islamist youth gathered in their platforms which were set up next to Omar Makram square where they broadcasted Qur’an and religious songs.
The blogger Zeinobia reports tensions between the supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the more liberal groups in Tahrir Square: "A stage announced that they will hold a trial for Hosni Mubarak with judges and so on in the square, then there will be a march to get him from the international health centre. That stage also announced that there will be a march from Tora city to Tora prison to get the rest of the Mubarak gang and bring them to the square. The [Muslim Brotherhood] stage airs patriotic songs and even held some marriage ceremony on in. The families of martyrs are extremely angry from that stage describing it as celebratory; one of the martyrs' mother told me that they aren't here to celebrate."
Meanhwile, a stage has been step up in the revolutionary square for opponents of the Syrian regime, CNN correspondent Ben Wademan said.
Liberal protesters set up their platforms next to the American University building, calling for the continuation of the revolution.
Egypt’s presidential hopeful Amr Moussa arrived at Tahrir Square with a massive march, stressing that January 25 was not a day to celebrate but "to remember our martyrs who sacrificed their lives to liberate Egypt".
Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, who dropped out of the presidential race, prayed at Al-Istiqamah Mosque in Giza where he protested with famous Egyptian political figures on Friday 28 January last year, dubbed “Friday of Rage”, calling for the same demands of “bread, freedom and social justice.”
The ruling military council ramped up security measures at government buildings ahead of Wednesday's protests, widely expected to be one of the biggest outbreaks of popular unrest since Mubarak's fall on February 11 last year.
Fortifications, including barbed wire, and armed soldiers were added around downtown Cairo's state television building, which was expected to be a protester rallying point, UK newspaper "The Guardian" said.
High-end hotels boarded up windows. Several airlines canceled flights to Egypt. The US Embassy warned Americans to stay away from the capital's center.
The council scheduled a series of official celebrations for Wednesday, including military parades, air shows, a specially commissioned operetta and the distribution of prize coupons to citizens on the streets.
But anti-military junta demonstrators, organized by 55 revolutionary movements, vowed to ignore the official celebrations and participate in marches and rallies in at least 10 cities, including No. 2 city Alexandria, demanding an immediate end to military rule.
The biggest protests were set for Cairo, with at least 12 major demonstrations merging in the afternoon and converging on Tahrir Square, the focal point of last year's anti-Mubarak demonstrations.
Youth movement activist Ahmed Bahgat told Egypt's Al-Ahram daily he saw a contrast between last year's demonstrations and Wednesday's.
"Even though everyone wants an end to military rule, there's no consensus as to what the immediate solution should be," he said.
Egypt's Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim Youssef earlier announced that a comprehensive security plan was set to secure the first anniversary of the revolution, stressing that there would be no police or military forces inside Tahrir Square.
He also warned against wearing military or police uniforms illegally, fearing that some may try to “exploit” the rallies in order to incite unrest or chaos.
Head of the Egyptian Ambulance Organisation Mahmoud Sultan announced that an emergency plan was also in place, which included 83 ambulance cars, of which 47 are to be located around Tahrir Square and 20 in Abbasiya Square in case of clashes.
The plan also included setting nine mobile clinics, of which six will be in Tahrir and three in Abbasiya, in addition to providing all necessary medical aid.
Protesters set up checkpoints at several entrances to the square, including Mohamed Mahmoud Street, where the Interior Ministry is located, and Qasr al-Aini Street, which leads to the cabinet. They used barbed wire to protect some important facilities while others helped organise traffic movement at detours opened when the square was closed to drivers late Tuesday.
Some protesters chanted slogans against the SCAF, calling to hand over the power to civilians.
Meanwhile, Islamists stressed that they are celebrating the revolution as a people's achievement.
The Health Ministry set up 30 ambulances and makeshift clinics near Omar Makram Mosque.
Tensions between Egypt’s military rulers and protesters pushing for civilian rule remain high.
Egyptian activists decried the anniversary-linked partial lifting of emergency law as tens of thousands gathered for anti-SCAF protests.
Tantawi said in a televised address on Tuesday the military regime would end Egypt's state of emergency -- in effect since 1967, except for an 18-month break in 1980 and 1981 -- on the anniversary of the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, "except in fighting acts of thuggery."
Tantawi did not elaborate on the term.
"From our perspective, the state of emergency has not been lifted," Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights Director Hossam Bahgat told "The Guardian".
"Tantawi's speech does nothing to deal with the most harmful aspect of the state of emergency, which is allowing the police to retain powers to stop, search and detain anyone they suspect of being a 'thug,' without having to obtain a judicial warrant," he said.
Tantawi also handed over legislative power to the newly elected parliament which held its first inaugural session on Monday, while promising to cede power to the new president in June.
Protesters have accused the army of mismanaging the country’s transition and using tactics similar to Mubarak’s government to stifle dissent. Dozens have been killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in the past three months, while the recently held elections which saw Islamists win almost three-quarters of the seats in parliament have failed to placate activists.
Some activists want an immediate handover of power to Egypt's new Parliament, while others demand the formation of a "national salvation" government, Al-Ahram said. Still others want earlier-than-scheduled presidential elections, the newspaper said.