Violence flares on uprising anniversary
Cairo – Egypt’s emergency services say 110 people have been injured in clashes between police and protesters during rallies marking the second anniversary of the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
The two sides clashed today in Cairo, Alexandria, the cities of Suez and Ismailia on the Suez Canal and a string of others, with police firing tear gas and protesters responding with stones.
The clashes point to Egypt’s volatility and divisions almost two years after Mubarak’s ouster, with the country now defined by a struggle between ruling Islamists, and mostly secular and liberal opponents who say Islamists are moving to take complete power.
In Ismaila, the Muslim Brotherhood political party’s offices were torched.
Thousands of opponents of President Mohammed Morsi and his Brotherhood allies massed in Cairo’s Tahrir Square – the cradle of the uprising against Mubarak – to revive the demands of a revolution they say has been betrayed by Islamists.
Inspired by Tunisia’s popular uprising, Egypt’s revolution spurred further revolts across the Arab world. But the sense of common purpose that united Egyptians two years ago has given way to internal strife that has only worsened, and last month triggered lethal street battles.
Today, police battled protesters who threw petrol bombs and firecrackers as they tried to approach a wall blocking access to government buildings near Tahrir Square. Clouds of tear gas fired by police filled the air.
Clashes between stone-throwing youths and the police continued in streets around the square into the day. Ambulances ferried away a steady stream of casualties.
There were similar scenes in Suez and Alexandria, where protesters and riot police skirmished near local government offices.
Some protesters pledged
to march to Morsi’s Cairo palace.
The Brotherhood decided against mobilising for the anniversary, wary of the scope for more conflict after violence last month that was stoked by Morsi’s decision to fast-track an Islamisttinged constitution rejected by his opponents.
In Tahrir Square, protesters echoed the chants of 2011’s historic 18-day uprising. ‘‘The people want to bring down the regime,’’ they chanted. ‘‘Leave! Leave! Leave!’’ chanted others as they marched towards the square.
With its eye firmly on forthcoming parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood marked the anniversary with a charity drive across the nation. It plans to deliver medical aid to one million people and distribute affordable basic foodstuffs.
Writing in Al-Ahram, Egypt’s flagship state-run daily, Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie said the country was in need of ‘‘practical, serious competition’’ to re- form the corrupt state left by the Mubarak era.
‘‘The differences of opinion and vision that Egypt is passing through is a characteristic at the core of transitions from dictatorship to democracy, and clearly expresses the variety of Egyptian culture,’’ he wrote.
Still, Morsi faces discontent on multiple fronts.
His opponents say he and his group are seeking to dominate the post-Mubarak order. They accuse him of showing some of the autocratic impulses of the deposed leader by, for example, driving through the new constitution last month.
Six months into office, Morsi is also being held responsible for an economic crisis caused by two years of turmoil. The Egyptian pound has sunk to record lows against the United States dollar.
Other sources of friction abound. Little has been done to reform brutal Mubarak-era security agencies.