15 marches will convene on Tahrir Square after Friday prayers Egyptian activists, youth groups and political forces are preparing a series of marches on Tahrir Square to mark the second anniversary of the January 25 revolution, following Friday prayers at noon .
Celebrations of Egypt’s successful 2011 revolution against the leadership of President Hosni Mubarak come amid an unprecedentedly charged and polarised political atmosphere.
15 marches in Cairo alone will set off immediately after noon prayers. Organisations behind the protests have vowed to push for longstanding revolutionary goals – under the original January 25 banner: “Bread, freedom and social justice” – combating a perceived political monopoly by Egypt’s ruling Muslim Brotherhood headed by President Mohammed Morsi.
Several marches will set out for Tahrir Square from different areas of Cairo and Giza, including Helwan, Shubra, al-Zawaya, Imbaba and Mohandeseen's Mostafa Mahmoud Square. Other marches have also been planned from points in eastern Cairo to the Ittihadiya presidential palace. Dozens of concurrent rallies and demonstrations are also planned nationwide in almost every Egyptian governorate.
Each rally will reportedly have its own theme. The march from Imbaba to Tahrir Square, for example, will condemn inflation and "despotism," while the planned march from Maadi will oppose what the opposition has described as the "Brotherhoodisation" of the state.
Among the parties and groups participating in Friday's planned protests are the Constitution Party led by Mohammed el-Baradei, the Egyptian Popular Current led by the ex-presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi, the Socialist Popular Alliance, the Free Egyptians party, the Revolutionary Socialists and the Maspero Youth Coalition.
The April 6 Youth Movement has also declared its intention to take part in the planned demonstrations. "This January 25 anniversary will not be a celebratory one, but rather a new revolutionary wave to complete the revolution's goals," said movement leader Ahmed Maher.
April 6 demands the amendment of Egypt's new constitution and the implementation of electoral promises made to liberal forces by President Mohammed Morsi.
A statement by Egypt’s Health Ministry said three medical teams and some 1,950 ambulances were on call on Friday in preparation for demonstrations. "Blood banks will also provide blood bags if needed," the statement added.
The Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party [FJP] meanwhile declared the bloc would refrain from any celebrations or protests, instead launching a campaign between January 24 and February 5 to promote free healthcare and public services.
The Brotherhood has reportedly directed its young cadres to protect its headquarters -- as well as those of the FJP -- following recent attacks on the group's offices by unknown assailants. Brotherhood deputy leader Mahmoud Ezzat has stated that the group "would not accept and will pre-empt any attempt to sow violence or chaos.”
A coalition of 15 Islamist groups have also announced a protest in front of the state-owned Media Production City – which houses the majority of Egypt’s national television studies – to voice their rejection against media portrayals of Islamists and President Morsi. “The media is the enemy of the revolution,” one Islamist leader has said.
Egypt’s Interior Ministry is also on high alert ahead of Saturday’s announcement of the verdict regarding the Port Said massacre trial.
More than 70 people were killed in Port Said in February last year during clashes in the Suez Canal city between fans of home side Al-Masry and diehard supporters of Cairo's Al-Ahly, otherwise known as Ultras.
Al-Ahly supporters warned of violent protests and a "new revolution" if Saturday's verdict goes against them.
Police officers will be deployed to secure public facilities, police stations, embassies and government headquarters around the country, the Ministry said in a statement.
Anticipating potential attempts to storm jails or central security facilities, the Ministry ordered the transfer of all inmates to central prisons and issued instructions to lock down weapon stocks.
Clashes began in the early hours on Friday when a few dozen men and youths tried to dismantle the wall of concrete blocks that blocked a street leading to Tahrir Square, the focal point of demonstrations that broke out in 2011 and led to Mubarak's resignation 18 days later.
The walls were erected last year to protect numerous buildings housing government and security service offices in the area.
"Down with Mohamed Morsi," some demonstrators shouted. "Down with the power of the [Supreme] Guide" of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, from whose ranks Morsi was elected last June.
Some demonstrators hurled rocks at riot police positioned a few dozen metres on the other side of the wall, who responded with tear gas grenades.
The Interior Ministry said five policemen were wounded in the clashes, while Health Ministry sources claimed 25 civilians had been hospitalised.