Hundreds of thousands of mostly Islamist protesters filled Tahrir Square on Friday to show their opposition to remnants of the former regime. A demonstration was also held in Alexandria. The protests were jointly organised by the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist Front. Members of the Nour, the Wasat, Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's Building and Development party and the Fadila party also participated. The protest was named “the Friday of Protecting the Revolution" under the slogan of "the only demand – together against the remnants of the former regime."
The main grievance is the 11th-hour presidential candidacy of former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who was also Hosni Mubarak’s last minute choice for vice president before his ouster. Suleiman is seen by many as the candidate of the military Supreme Council, SCAF. But Ahmed Shafiq, appointed prime minister during the uprising against Mubarak, and former foreign affairs minister and former secretary-general of the Arab League — are also among the presidential who the protesters wished to see scrapped.
Alexandria protesters marched after Friday prayers from Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque to the Northern Military base, denouncing the candidacy of figures from the former regime. They chanted against military rule and shouted, “No Shafiq, no Suleiman, this talk was in the past” and “Yes, we’re chanting against the army, down with army rule.”
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