ALEXANDRIA: Thousands of protesters marched early Friday from Al-Qa’ed Ibrahim mosque in Alexandria towards the city’s northern military zone, chanting against the military rule and the constitutional principles proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Aly El-Selmy.
Another march, mainly comprising activists, also kicked off from Ekbal Street towards the same location.
Most of Alexandria’s political forces participated in the demonstrations, including the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, the Salafi Al- Nour Party, the April 6 Youth Movement, as well as several socialists movements and parties.
The march was met by a large number of protesters at the military zone, who chanted religious slogans, such as “The people want to implement Allah’s laws.”
A stage was set up at the military zone, where members of the Islamic Labor Party chanted “Allah akbar, down with military rule.”
The party’s secretary general praised the residents of Alexandria, saying they were the ones who stood by Salah Eddin.
“Today we are telling Tantawi and his council to leave power,” he said.
Other speakers who took the stage include Sobhi Saleh from the FJP and Islam El-Hodeiry from the April 6 Youth Movement.
“We took part in organizing the protests here in Alexandria because we believe that after failing to restore security in the streets, the deteriorating economic situation in the country, the military has failed to run this country,” said Selim Saad, a spokesperson for the April 6 Youth Movement in Alexandria.
Protesters chanted “Tantawy, Tantawy, tell Anan the legitimacy comes from Tahrir.”
Sheikh Ahmed Mahalawi, the imam of Al Qa’ed Mosque, delivered a controversial Friday sermon, where he wondered how Egyptians tolerated Mubarak’s rule for 30 years without rising up against his regime.
“It seems that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces does not acknowledge the revolution that we started,” he added.
Mahalawi also proclaimed that “the revolution has been hijacked.”
Immediately after the Friday prayers, people started chanting “Down, down with the military rule.”
“The SCAF is a Mubarak body, how can they rule? People cannot find bread and if SCAF doesn’t take urgent steps people will die,” said Khaled Abdel Mohsen, one of the protesters.
Other protesters, mainly affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, condemned El-Selmy and the constitutional principles.
Protesters chanted, “Down with Ali El-Selmy,” as they marched behind a truck carrying Freedom and Justice Party banners.
Protesters attempted to encourage residents of the neighboring areas to join the march.
While Mostafa Mohamed Mostafa, a taxi driver, was not part of the march, he expressed his support, condemning the country’s deteriorating conditions.
“The rulers must do something,” said Mostafa.
Another taxi driver said that while he cannot join the protests because he depends on his daily earnings, he fully supports it.
“I am a taxi driver, and I don’t have a fixed income, so I have to work. But I support this protest especially after Selmy’s constitutional principles,” Hossam Abdel Raouf said.
He went on to condemn SCAF. “No one is above law even if it is SCAF. The army does not have the right to keep its budget secret," he added.
