By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Clashes broke out late Monday in front of the state television building Maspero between supporters of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and others who want him prosecuted, resulting in three injuries from both sides.
The Corniche road was blocked by the army through the night after a protest coming from Tahrir heading toward Maspero clashed with Mubarak supporters as violence between both sides ensued.
Eyewitnesses said the army did not intervene as both sides hurled stones at each other.
Earlier in the day, more than 400 Mubarak supporters protested in front of Maspero, denouncing plans to put him on trial and the “insults” directed towards him.
Holding up pictures of Mubarak, protesters shouted pro-Mubarak slogans and chanted against Tahrir protests and Prime Minister Essam Sharaf.
“We agree with the [January 25] Revolution but we don’t want Mubarak to be prosecuted, instead we want him to be treated with respect for the services he gave the country in the past 30 years,” said Yasser Kamel, a computer shop owner.
“I am not a member of the disbanded National Democratic Party (NDP) and I never had any political affiliations but this is the symbol of my country and I am not happy with the way he is being dealt with,” he added.
Protesters closed the Corniche road before being dispersed by the army while two were detained.
The army cordoned protesters, separating them from anti-Mubarak protesters across the street.
“I accept the trial of Mubarak on condition that it is a fair one but what’s happening is that it is a politicized trial under public pressure especially after the audio message he gave on [Al Arabiya],” said Sherif Al-Adawy, one of the organizers of the protest.
“Our protest today is to prove that there is a voice different than that of Tahrir, which has turned into another dictatorship that doesn’t accept opposing views,” he added.
Protesters refused to label Mubarak as the “ousted president,” saying he willingly resigned.
“We agree with prosecuting his sons and putting them in prison if found guilty but Mubarak is a symbol and doesn’t deserve this,” Kamal said.
Al-Adawy said he participated in protests demanding freedom and social justice until Jan. 28, when chants demanding the resignation of Mubarak began, because “it was a plan to fragment the country.”
He alleged that the Prosecutor General remains silent until he is put under pressure and many of the cases being investigated are not backed with enough evidence.
Banners raised thanked Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for supporting Mubarak. Press reports have said that the UAE is banning working visas for Egyptians due to the decision to put Mubarak on trial.
Protesters demanded PM Sharaf be discharged for “not being strong enough to take decisions without consulting the revolution’s youth.”
“Sharaf made an unprecedented move saying his legitimacy comes from Tahrir while the maximum number of protesters there was estimated to be 2 million — what about the rest of the people?” Al-Adawy said.
“He was part of Mubarak’s regime and was one of the worst ministers of transportation and train accidents took place during his reign,” he added.
Sharaf was transportation minister in Ahmed Nazif’s cabinet from July 2004 to December 2005, but reportedly resigned following serious differences with Nazif. He then returned to academia, teaching at Cairo University, where he continued being a vocal critic of the Mubarak regime until he joined the Tahrir protests in February.
Mubarak supporters have been organizing small protests in front of Maspero for the past 10 days.
*This story has been updated.
