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New "march of one million" to oust military government today in Cairo
More than 30 political parties and trade unions in the showdown against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which confirms the elections of 28 November and appoints a new prime minister. Muslim Brotherhood absent, they will gather in another place.
Cairo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Tahrir Square is starting to fill for a new "march of one million" called for today after Friday prayers by more than 30 political parties, to demand that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF ) and its leader, Hussein Tantawi, immediately pass powers to a civilian authority. Other secondary requirements are the formation of a "national emergency government", the release of activists arrested in Maspero and Tahrir, the bringing to trial of those responsible for the killings of protesters and a radical restructuring of the Ministry of Interior. The Wafd Party (liberal) and especially the Muslim Brotherhood will not be participating in the demonstration, the latter preferring to hold its own separate demonstration.
The Supreme Council has already rejected the demands that will be repeated in the square today, it has confirmed that the election will be held on November 28, and has appointed a new Prime Minister, replacing Essam Sharaf, who resigned Nov. 23 . The new premier is Kamal Ganzouri, who already filled that role during the Mubarak era, from 1996 to 1999. His appointment was criticized because Ganzouri is a member of the old guard, tied to the regime and the military, although he was removed by the Rais long before the outbreak of the crisis.
Today's protest is supported by the Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions, while another union declared a strike today in support of the event. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health revealed that 41 people were victims of the recent clashes. The Council expressed its condolences and promised that the families of victims will be compensated. But the situation is extremely unstable and high risk, even for journalists. Some were injured and newspapers and televisions have been discouraged from sending women journalists to Egypt, since there were at least two cases of sexual assault by plainclothes security agents against them: one French and one with Egyptian and American nationality.