Thousands protests in Tahrir as counter protests intensify

Thousands of protesters joined today’s mass demonstration in Cairo’s Tahrir Square Cairo – Akram Ali Thousands of protesters joined today’s mass demonstration in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, which was led by several Egyptian political parties and movements.  The call for  a million-man protest on Friday was aimed at denouncing the military violence against protesters during in the past week.
Meanwhile, a counter-demonstration took place in Cairo’s Abassiya Square, in which hundreds of SCAF supporters gathered on Friday chanting ‘no to sabotage’, calling for calm until the presidential elections.
After Friday prayers, Tahrir demonstrators denounced the violence against protesters, following a week of deadly clashes between protesters and the military.
Demonstrators staged symbolic funerals for slain activists, carrying empty coffins draped with Egyptian flags and chanting slogans against Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces SCAF, demanding a speedy transfer of power to an elected civilian authority.
While, a massive march from Al-Azhar Mosque arrived Tahrir Square, which was under the leadership of Sheikh Hisham Attia, a close friend of Sheikh Emad Effat, who was killed in the Cabinet clashes last week. Attia gave the Friday sermon, in which he blamed the military for the Egyptian division and called them to hand over the power to civilians. He also called the protesters not to leave Tahrir Square.
Attia sent a message to the SCAF, saying that Egyptians will never accept to be humiliated after the January 25 revolution, and Egypt was stripped naked by the military forces, referring to the images of women protesters dragged by their hair, beaten and kicked by troops last week. At least twenty ambulances are parked around the square, in case of any injuries.
SCAF supporters, however, called for counter-demonstration in Abassiya square.
According to eyewitnesses the number of demonstrators is about two thousands.
They chanted slogans against their counterparts in Tahrir Square, and waved with the Egyptian flag while chanting slogans to support the SCAF.
The Friday sermon preacher at Abassiya called on all Egyptians to unite. He also sent a message to Tahrir’s demonstrators saying, “We want you to work with us against Egypt’s enemies to save our country.”