By Marwa Al-A’asar
CAIRO: Hundreds of thousands of citizens resumed protesting Tuesday in Cairo, Mahalla, Suez and Alexandria demanding the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
Tens of thousands flocked to the central Tahrir Square throughout the day. Inside there was less chanting than before. Protesters carried a symbolic coffin representing the reported 300 killed in protests. A large Egyptian flag, carried by 100 people, was also displayed.
Sarcastic and humorous posters outshined the strictly political ones, adding to the festive mood inside.
A few thousand protested in front of the People’s Assembly building, a few hundred meters down the road from the square. Calls were made through social media networks for some of the Tahrir protesters to join the PA demonstration.
In the Delta City of Mahalla, an eyewitness said about 200,000 citizens protested in Al-Bahr, the city’s main street.
“Not only do people call on Mubarak to step down, they also call for his prosecution,” activist Mohamed Maree told Daily News Egypt.
“This protest is a response to Vice President Omar Suleiman’s attempt to imply that there has been progress in the dialogue with the opposition forces that do not by any means represent the protesters or this revolution,” Maree added.
Protesters also urged workers at all factories in Mahalla, known for its textile industry, to hold an open shrike until their demands are met.
Protesters in Alexandria voiced the same demands.
About 300,000 citizens formed four demonstrations held simultaneously in Raml Station, Moharam Bek, Sidi Beshr and El-Asafra neighborhoods then were joined by a similar number who returned from work following afternoon prayers.
“People in Alexandria call for the prosecution of Mubarak for what he did to the Egyptian people,” former MP and Muslim Brotherhood senior member Sobhi Saleh told Daily News Egypt. “We also call for sequestering his fortune.”
On Friday Alexandria protesters will hold a symbolic public trial for the embattled president.
In Suez, thousands of citizens took to the main streets calling for sacking the governor and the chief of police, demands that have been ignored so far.
“We will keep protesting until they go away,” one protester told Daily News Egypt.
“They are responsible for killing and injuring dozens of people during the protests held at the end of last month,” he added.
Tens of Suez citizens have been killed since the protests first erupted on Jan. 25 and hundreds more injured.
“Why didn’t the prime minister respond to the rage of Suez citizens who have been calling for the resignation of the police directorate chief and the governor?” another protester said.
During the Jan. 25 protests, riot-control forces used live ammunition resulting in dozens of casualties. Outraged citizens took to the streets on the following days for more demonstrations that witnessed more violence on both sides.
“The official number announced says only 17 have been killed and 250 injured since Jan. 25,” a medical source told Daily News Egypt on condition of anonymity.
“But I swear I saw dozens of dead bodies in the morgue and over 500 wounded,” he added.
A number of Suez lawyers traveled to Cairo to join the protesters in Tahrir Square. Others representing different political affiliations and professions also headed to Cairo for the demonstrations.
Thousands of Egyptian anti-government demonstrators flash the V for “victory” sign and wave their national flag as they gather in the northern city of Alexandria on Feb. 8. (AFP PHOTO/STR)
