AFP/Cairo


Egyptian protesters took to the streets in energetic marches yesterday demanding political change as they marked the second anniversary of Hosni Mubarak’s ouster by a popular revolt.
“The revolution continues” read some banners, as others chanted “After blood has been spilled, there is no legitimacy.”
Opposition parties and movements have called for a day of protests, demanding President Mohamed Mursi fulfil the goals of the revolution that brought him and his long-banned movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, to power.
Among their key demands are a new unity government, amendments to a controversial Islamist-drafted constitution and the sacking of the prosecutor general.
Activists are also furious that no one has been held accountable for the deaths of dozens of protesters in recent months in clashes with police.
“Down with Brotherhood rule,” the protesters chanted as they made their way to Cairo’s Tahrir Square—the symbolic heart of protests that toppled Mubarak.
Other marches headed to the presidential palace, where violent protests have been staged against Mursi.
Earlier, protesters briefly blocked a major bridge as well as trains in a central Cairo metro station, scuffling with passengers and metro police, witnesses and state media reported.
Two years ago, Egyptians poured into the streets to celebrate after Mubarak’s aide announced the veteran president’s resignation, buoyant that democratic change was possible.
The 84-year-old’s spectacular fall from grace on February 11 after an 18-day popular revolt sent shock waves across the Middle East and beyond.
But two years later, many are angry that the main goals of the revolt—freedom and social justice—have not been achieved and that Egypt is more polarised between Mursi’s mainly Islamist supporters and a broad opposition.
Egypt has witnessed deadly violence, insecurity and price hikes, fuelling the political turmoil gripping the country.


Brotherhood’s choice
for top cleric spurned

Egypt’s leading religious scholars spurned the ruling Muslim Brotherhood’s choice and picked an apolitical Islamic law professor yesterday to be the country’s top cleric.
“Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, professor of Islamic law in Tanta University, got the highest number of votes and the matter has been sent to the president to issue his decision,” a statement from Al Azhar seat of learning said.
The contender groomed by the Brotherhood, Abdul Rahman al-Bar, 50, a 30-year veteran of the Islamist group and member of its decision-making Supreme Guidance Council, was not even in the top three nominees, officials said.
Allam chairs the department of jurisprudence in the Shariah law faculty in Al Azhar’s university in the northern Nile delta town of Tanta. The mufti’s office gave his age as 55. He will serve until the normal retirement age of 60.
“This is a big vote of trust in me and I hope to God that I will be up to the task,” Allam told Reuters.