Egyptians returned to the Tahrir Square Friday to mark two years since Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, but the revolution seemed far from over as thousands protested against the newly-installed Islamist regime and clashed with security forces.
Rallies by the mainly secular opposition
brought thousands of people on streets, and violence was reported from several cities including Alexandria and Suez.
In the canal city of Ismailia, protesters set fire to the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).
In Cairo, tens of thousands of opposition supporters gathered at the Tahrir Square, the centre of the pro-democracy protests of 2011, with many chanting slogans denouncing the “Brotherhoodisation” of the state.
Several marches started after Friday prayers from mosques to different parts of the city, with batches of protesters reaching the presidential palace as well as the state radio and TV offices.
Much has elapsed since the mass uprising of 2011 overthrew Mubarak, and Egyptians have for the first time elected a government of their own. But the developments have left the country sharply polarised.
A recent referendum on the constitution drafted by the Islamist dominated Parliament has left the country divided with the secular and liberal opposition terming the draft as “too Islamist”.