Aswat Masriya (Cairo)

Egypt: Liberal Forces Demonstrate Again Friday

Two liberal parties have announced a demonstration on Friday under the slogan "Egypt is not anyone's private property. Egypt is for all Egyptians", in response to last weekend's clashes.

Violent confrontations broke out on Friday between liberal opponents and Islamist supporters of Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi. The clashes left 143 people injured from stone-throwing and Molotov.

The Dostour Party, founded by former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Popular Current, founded by ex-presidential Nasserist activist Hamdeen Sabahi, issued a statement on Sunday calling for all Egyptians to participate in next weekend's demonstration.

The statement suggested that the demonstration will focus on demanding retribution for all those who were martyred since the awakening of last year's uprising to topple Hosni Mubarak.

It held the president responsible for receiving from the authorities all the data concerned with clashes that erupted since January 25 of last year, asking him to execute justice.

The two liberal parties also called for a new representative constituent assembly to write a balanced constitution that includes a clear vision to implement social justice and tackle the daily struggles of the people.

They also demanded the annulment of the decision to close all stores, restaurants, cafes, etc, early, and instead put a fair minimum wage into effect in light of the rising prices of commodities, to ensure the well-being of citizens.

The statement condemned Friday's Tahrir clashes, holding president Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood accountable and comparing their methods to face their opposition to Mubarak's.

"We believe that some members of the ruling party [The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party] are repeating the same mistakes of the old regime. We believe that the ruling party is putting the people at a conflict that hurts, with its implications, the nation, its image before the world and the ability of its economy and stability to recover", the statement said.

Over 30 parties and movements condemned Friday's clashes, describing the Brotherhood's call to its members to take to the Square, on the same day where liberal forces had announced an anti-Brotherhood demonstration, as "planned aggression".

Liberal and leftist forces announced weeks ago their intention to stage a demonstration on Friday, October 12, to mark the end of the first 100 days of Mursi's presidency. It was likely that these liberal demonstrators would also express resentment against Wednesday's court verdict.

A Cairo court on Wednesday acquitted top Mubarak aides from a famous case known to the public as "The Battle of the Camel".

Following the verdict, the Muslim Brotherhood announced their intention to hold demonstrations on two days, including the same Friday where opposition forces had planned a protest to challenge the Brotherhood president.

