Egypt's protests continue despite cabinet reshuffle

[News_Editor]

Egypt's protests continue despite cabinet reshuffle

2011-07-23 04:19:22 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO (BNO NEWS) -- Hundreds of protesters on Friday participated in a mass protest designated as "Friday of Decision" in Cairo's Tahrir square despite the latest government reshuffle, Ahram Online reported.

The 6 April Movement, the Union of Revolution Youth and other revolutionary groups called for the mobilization to show their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Essam Sharaf's newly reshuffled cabinet announced on Thursday. Organizers rejected the new law proposed by Sharaf and the ruling military council to regulate parliamentary elections, as well as the steps which both have taken to address the grievances of families of those killed during the January 2011 uprising.

Protesters are also reiterating their previous calls for the nullification of Sharaf's law which criminalizes certain demonstrations and strikes. They are also still demanding the dismissal of the interior minister and the prosecution of those responsible for the killing of peaceful protesters.

Early on Friday afternoon, supporters of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman numbering in the tens marched through Tahrir Square to demand his release and return to the homeland, despite announcing that they would not participate in the protests. Rahman is an Egyptian Jihadi serving a life sentence in the United States for his role in the first 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Protesters, including Abdel Rahman's family, chanted slogans calling for the release of the Jihadi. Some people were stunned by the presence of the group since all the major Islamic political organizations have boycotted the ongoing sit-in that started 13 days ago.

Sharaf reshuffled 14 posts in his interim Cabinet this week, hoping to quell protesters. They, however, were not satisfied with the reshuffle since some of the ministers who stayed are those they wanted out for alleged links to the Mubarak regime.

According to Amnesty International, at least 840 people were killed and over 6,000 people were injured in the violent repression that took place during the January uprising.

Ousted President Hosni Mubarak, who ruled Egypt in a 30-year-long regime, stepped down after the uprising. Mubarak will stand trial for corruption and murder charges on August 3, along his sons, Alaa and Gamal, and businessman Hussein Salem.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-23

[Derifo]

They actually thought life would be easier and better by getting rid of Mubarak, just as the Libyans will find out in the not too distant future..