Egyptians flock to Tahrir to protest Mubarak verdict

Egyptians continue to occupy Cairo's Tahrir Square in anger over the Mubarak verdict Egyptians are flocking in crowds to Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square for a "million-man march" against the judicial rulings in the trial of former president Hosni Mubarak, his sons and senior security officials. Marchers left to Tahrir from several mosques around the capital led by the runners-up in last month’s presidential election first round – Hamdeen Sabbahy, Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh and Khaled Ali – to join thousands already in the square.
The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s most powerful and organised political group, was reportedly amassing its supporters in the square. The group’s political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), on Tuesday boycotted a meeting called for by the ruling military council with political groups.
The meeting is supposed to discuss an advisory council’s proposed supplementary constitutional declaration and the formation of the constituent assembly, Egypt’s daily al-Masry al-Youm reported.
Liberal groups, such as the April 6 Youth Movement, the Popular Socialist Alliance Party, the Revolutionary Socialists and the Maspero Youth Union, also gathered in the square.
In Tahrir, demonstrators chanted against the ruling military council and vowed to keep their revolution alive.
“Revolutionaries, free, we will continue our journey,” they chanted.
The FJP reiterated its rejection of any constitutional amendments, confirming that it will continue to consult with other political parties and powers in a bid to reach a consensus on the constituent assembly to draft Egypt’s new constitution.
Mubarak – the only autocrat toppled in the Arab Spring to be put in the dock – could have been sent to the gallows as demanded by the prosecution but he was instead given a life term, angering many.
He was also cleared of graft charges.
Mubarak’s interior minister Habib el-Adly was also sentenced to life in prison.
Along with the acquitted police chiefs, Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal had corruption charges against them dropped on a technicality, but they will remain in custody pending trial on other graft charges.
The rulings sparked nationwide outrage, with thousands taking to the streets to vent their rage that no one had been found directly guilty of killing the protesters.
Hawkers selling tea, cakes or flags took up positions in the square in downtown Cairo.
Egypt's prosecutor has said that the verdicts will be appealed, but a judicial source said that the process would take several weeks.
Mubarak's defence team has also said it would challenge the ruling and told AFP it was confident of winning on appeal.
The verdicts come just two weeks before the presidential election run-off which is becoming highly polarised with many activists facing a difficult choice.
For activists, choosing Ahmed Shafiq, a Mubarak-era figure, would symbolise a return to the old regime and an end to the revolution, but voting for Morsi would mean handing Egypt to a movement they say has monopolised power since the uprising.