AL ARABIYA (Saudi Arabia/Egypt), MASRAWY (Egypt)
CAIRO – At least 16 people have been injured in and around Tahrir Square as both protesters and Egyptian police geared up for major demonstrations Friday to mark two years since the Arab world's uprising coalesced in the region's largest country on Jan. 25, 2011.
Ahead of what are expected to be major protests called to follow Friday’s prayer, it was the Ultras Ahlawy (violent supporters of Egypt's biggest soccer club) who led the preliminary protests on Wednesday and Thursday as a warning to the government as to today’s mobilization.
“Your precious souls that you sacrificed for us will not go to waste, rest in peace, revenge is on the way,” they tweeted Wednesday.
لن تذهب دمائكم الغالية هدرا،استريØوا Ù�Ù‰ قبوركم اصدقائكم بالمرصاد #ïº�ï»Ÿï»¤ïº ïºªï»Ÿï» ïº¸ï»¬ïºªïº�ﺀ#القصاص#UA07
— UltrasAhlawy (@UltrasAhlawy07) January 23, 2013
Clashes in the capital resulted in 16 injured, a Ministry of Health official told Al Arabiya.
The calls for protests were encouraged by opposition leaders such as Mohamed El Baradei, head of Al Dostour party, who said Friday that the removal of President Mohamed Morsi should not be the focus of the demonstration.
“Let’s get out and demand the realization of the objectives of the revolution,” he said on Twitter.
لنخرج للميادين لإستكمال أهدا� الثورةaldostourparty.org
— Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) January 24, 2013
As for the government, no official declarations were made in the lead-up to the anniversary, with Morsi focused on promoting his visit to the Suez Canal, reports Masrawy.
Here's how it looked two years ago:
[rebelmouse-image 27086192 alt="""" original_size="640x480" expand=1]
Photo Ramy Raoof
