Cairo - Spurred by continued unrest in Libya, the people of Cairo gathered for yet another massive Friday protest. Immediately following today’s midday prayers, several hundred thousand gathered in Tahrir Square to demand an end to the government of Ahmed Shafiq and the dissolution of the state security services. Many also called for the military to protect the more than 1 million Egyptians currently at risk in the Libyan conflict.
Groups of protesters chanted, “General Tantawi, we are your children” in an attempt to win the attention of the Supreme Council. Despite making demands on the military, the crowd was also supportive of its presence. Protesters hung off the gathered tanks and posed for pictures with friends, families, and uniformed soldiers.
The cordiality between protesters and the ruling military regime was not echoed in the feeling towards the Shafiq government. Unwilling to accept a leader with such close ties to Mubarak, protesters’ primary demand was for his government’s dissolution. As an alternative, many supported the creation of a temporary coalition government with leaders from the major opposition parties. Whether this would be acceptable to the military is doubtful. Many believe the military wants to slow the pace of reform and control the tempo of change.
The fear for Libya was palpable, and the crowd was tense but exuberant. Their chants and signs against Muammar Qaddafi expressed desire for the Egyptian military to protect their brethren, both Libyans and Egyptians across the border. Whether the military should send direct support continues to be a topic of much debate.
Several influential leaders from different sects took the stage together to express these demands. Prominent writer and political leader Alaa al-Aswany was joined by Mohamed Beltagy of the Muslim Brotherhood and George Ishak of Kefaya. Their presence reflected the general makeup of the crowd, which was largely middle class. Notable in their absence were many of Egypt’s poor who helped drive earlier protests.
This growing divide between the middle and lower class groups represents a critical faultline in the emerging social landscape. Egypt’s poor are currently assessing whether this revolution will address their socioeconomic demands or will remain solely a political revolution of the middle class. Their decision is likely to impact the long-term stability of whatever government emerges from the dust.
How long these Friday protests will continue and whether the miltiary will allow the Shafiq government to survive are also likely to be deciding factors in how the next several weeks in Egypt play out.
Reporting: Zack Brisson, Panthea Lee, and Mostafa Kashef. Images: Zack Brisson and Panthea Lee.
