Egyptians celebrate, challenge army to keep promises

CAIRO, (Reuters) – Millions took to the streets to  celebrate the new Egypt today, reminding military rulers to  keep their promise of a swift transition to civilian rule after  people power swept away autocrat Hosni Mubarak in just 18 days.
On an emotional day that will become a landmark in modern  Egyptian history and a memorial to the 365 people who died in  the uprising, many said they would carefully guard newly-won  promises from the military of elections within six months.
“This is a serious message to the military,” said Mohamed  el-Said, 28, who travelled to Cairo from Port Said, gesturing to  the colourful sea of people from all walks of life around him  who rallied to mark the stepping down of Mubarak a week ago.

Egyptians held a nationwide "Victory March" today to celebrate the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule one week ago, to protect the revolution and to remind new military rulers of the power of the street. Hundreds of thousands joined the rallies, which are also a memorial to the 365 people who died in the 18-day uprising, with many Egyptians expressing their intention to guard their newly-won prospect of democracy.  REUTERS/Suhaib Salem
Egyptians held a nationwide "Victory March" today to celebrate the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule one week ago, to protect the revolution and to remind new military rulers of the power of the street. Hundreds of thousands joined the rallies, which are also a memorial to the 365 people who died in the 18-day uprising, with many Egyptians expressing their intention to guard their newly-won prospect of democracy. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

“After today, it will be more than obvious to them that if  they don’t protect the revolution and respond to the people’s  demands, the next time people go down to Tahrir won’t be to  celebrate victory, but they will bring their blankets with them  like before,” he told Reuters in Tahrir (Liberation) Square.
Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradawi, an influential Qatar-based  Egyptian preacher, told worshippers in Tahrir Square that fear  had been lifted from Egyptians who had toppled a modern pharaoh  through faith and triumphed over sectarianism.
His appearance and the emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood  show a new-found acceptance in the new Egypt of once-forbidden  Islamist movements, although Egyptians say religious voices are  only some of the many now being heard.
The revolution in Egypt, a U.S. ally which signed the first  Arab peace treaty with Israel, sent tremors through the region.  Protests erupted in Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Iran and Iraq, taking  their cue from Egypt and Tunisia who toppled their leaders.
“I call on the Egyptian army to liberate us from the  government that Mubarak formed,” Qaradawi told the faithful at  noon prayers in Tahrir Square, after which the crowd exploded  with cheers and waved national flags in jubilation.
The cabinet now in place is largely the same as one that  Mubarak, 82, appointed shortly before he stepped down from the  presidency. A reshuffle is expected in the next few days.

RESHUFFLE EXPECTED
Security officials said Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq would  announce ministers making up the new emergency government next  week and hoped the reshuffle at the top would help to appease  protesters and workers on strike.
Life in Egypt is still far from normal a week after  Mubarak’s exit, with tanks on the streets, banks and schools  closed, workers on strike and further anti-government protests.
There were tanks and armoured vehicles at the entrances to  the sprawling square, which was packed tightly with marchers,  bowing simultaneously in prayer joined by red-bereted military  police and other uniformed soldiers guarding the area.
Soldiers handed out national flags while a military band  played “Egypt My Love” and marchers took photographs of  themselves and their families smiling with tank crews alongside  their armoured vehicles. People on the banks of the Nile River  that runs through Cairo danced and banged drums.
About 5,000 people gathered peacefully in another part of  Cairo, Mohandisseen, chanting slogans of gratitude to Mubarak  and apologies for the way in which he was deposed, saying they  supported revolution but objected to Mubarak’s treatment.
“The people want to honour the president,” they chanted,  dressed in black as a signal of remorse about the ailing  Mubarak, who is in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.  Banners at the rally said, “Yes to change, no to humiliation.”

“GUARD THE REVOLUTION”
The Muslim Brotherhood, which says it is committed to  democracy, is seen as the only truly organised bloc in Egypt and  believes it could win up to 30 percent of votes in an election.  The Brotherhood also warned of the need to protect gains.
“We urge all noble people … to guard the revolution and  its legitimate demands, and not to leave the chance for  opportunists to kidnap it and its accomplishments which, with  God’s permission, have begun to bear fruit,” said the  Brotherhood’s leader Mohamed Badie, just ahead of the march.
“This is an Egypt that cannot be deceived,” Badie said in  his Friday message to followers on the Brotherhood’s website.
Egypt’s official state news agency, which before Mubarak’s  downfall had largely ignored or played down protests, said on  Friday that more than 2 million people were in Tahrir Square.
Such a popular outpouring of emotion was on a par with the  1970 death of President Gamal Abdel Nasser, whose speeches  gripped and galvanised the Arab world, when mourners flooded the  streets of Cairo and Egyptian cities.