New protests begin in Cairo
May 21st, 2011 - 1:53 am ICT by IANS
Cairo, May 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Protests erupted in Cairo after the Friday prayers, with one group gathering at the central Tahrir Square in the wake of media speculation that deposed leader Hosni Mubarak was going to ask for clemency in exchange for handing over his wealth to the Egyptian government.
“There is no way to make deals with a person who violated the Egyptian people’s rights for 30 years,” the National Committee of Changes said in a statement.
The protesters said they were preparing a mass demonstration May 27 since many Egyptians “have not seen any changes” since Mubarak was forced to stand down.
Another rally, held at Roxy Square, united Facebook activists who call themselves the “passive majority” and appealed for calm in the aftermath of the uprising that resulted in Mubarak’s overthrow.
“We reject malevolence, abuse and public trials of the ousted regime’s authorities at Tahrir Square,” the group said, adding that no political party has the right to speak for the entire nation.
Earlier in the week, Egyptian authorities released on bail former first lady Suzanne Mubarak after she handed over all of her assets - some $3.4 million and a Cairo villa - to the state.
Her husband is also seeking a pardon “for any behaviour that may have stemmed from false information passed to him by his advisers”.
Mubarak, 83, resigned Feb 11 following an 18-day uprising that resulted in the deaths of more than 800 people. The military council that took power following Mubarak’s
resignation has pledged to bring to justice all former regime officials found guilty of abusing their powers.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
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Tags: cairo, clemency, egyptian authorities, egyptian government, egyptians, facebook, false information, first lady, hosni mubarak, malevolence, mass demonstration, media speculation, military council, national committee, protesters, ria novosti, roxy square, suzanne mubarak, tahrir square, uprising