Thousands of Egyptian protesters stage second day of pro-reform demonstrations

Thousands of Egyptian protesters stage second day of pro-reform demonstrations

2011-05-28 02:14:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) -- Thousands of protesters on Friday took the streets and squares across Egypt to stage a second day of pro-reform demonstrations while the ruling military council ordered armed forces not to be present.

According to the Ahram newspaper, the main gathering of protesters took place in Cairo's Tahrir Square since 8:00 a.m. local time. Police established check points at the entrances to the site.

The "Second Day of Rage" demonstrations were staged to demand to fulfill the reforms requested during January's Revolution as well as calling for holding presidential elections.

Cairo protesters are also demanding the removal of deputy Prime Minister Yehia El-Gamala, the judicial supervision on the newly formed National Security Agency, and changing the management staff of universities.

On Thursday, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces announced that not a single bullet will be fired against protesters who have the right to participate in peaceful demonstrations.

"The children of this great nation, who have rewritten the history of modern Egypt through their peaceful revolution which has awed the world, have the right to peaceful protests," said the Council in its 58th Communiqué.

The ruling council added that Egypt's armed forces are "from the people and work for the people." Howler, the military warned demonstrators of suspicious forces conducting acts to cause tensions between the people and the armed forces.

In April, at least one protester was killed and 71 others were injured after the Egyptian army disrupted protests in Tahrir Square. The military tried to disperse a mass sit-in calling for ousted President Hosni Mubarak to be tried for corruption.

The ruling council said that the attack was targeted against thugs and members of the former-ruling National Democratic Party who they accused of 'conducting sabotage' in the square.

Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for three decades, stepped down after weeks of anti-government protests calling for greater democracy and respect of human rights. Afterwards, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces took control of the country.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-28