Pro-government demonstrators, below, and anti-government demonstrators, above, clash in Tahrir Square, the center of anti-government demonstrations, in Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, February 2. (AP Photo)
CAIRO, February 2 (AP): Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak said on Tuesday he would step down at the end of his term in September after massive protests demanding the end of his 30-year rule. On Wednesday the army told protesters it was time to help Egypt return to normal. However several thousand supporters of President Hosni Mubarak, including some riding horses and camels and wielding whips, attacked anti—government protesters on Wednesday as Egypt’s upheaval took a dangerous new turn.
Mubarak to go, army appeals to protesters
The turmoil was the first significant violence between supporters of the two camps in more than a week of anti—government protests. It erupted after Mr. Mubarak went on national television the night before and rejected demands he step down immediately and said he would serve out the remaining seven months of his term. A military spokesman appeared on state TV Wednesday and asked the protesters to disperse so life in Egypt could get back to normal. Nearly 10,000 protesters massed again in Tahrir on Wednesday morning, rejecting Mr. Mubarak’s speech as too little too late and renewing their demands he leave immediately.
Mubarak to go, army appeals to protesters
The turmoil was the first significant violence between supporters of the two camps in more than a week of anti—government protests. It erupted after Mr. Mubarak went on national television the night before and rejected demands he step down immediately and said he would serve out the remaining seven months of his term. A military spokesman appeared on state TV Wednesday and asked the protesters to disperse so life in Egypt could get back to normal. Nearly 10,000 protesters massed again in Tahrir on Wednesday morning, rejecting Mr. Mubarak’s speech as too little too late and renewing their demands he leave immediately.
19th century square spells Egypt’s modern liberation
Cairo, February 2 (AGENCIES): It was a Mubarak who designed a new town square in the millenia-old Cairo which has turned into the fountain head of Egypt’s unrest that is now sweeping another Mubarak out of power. Tahrir Square, where tens of thousands of protesters have gathered to demand President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, owes its design to Ali Pasha Mubarak - Egypt’s public works minister in the 1860s.
Tahrir in Arabic means ‘liberation’. Tahrir Square has been the traditional spot for many major protests, including the 1977 bread riots that took place after the government decided to withdraw subsidies to basic foodstuffs. Al-Jazeera reported that the area, on which the square is located, has been historically significant to the Egyptian capital since 13th century. However, it took its current shape only in late 19th century.
The square was designed by Ali Pasha Mubarak, Egypt’s public works minister in the 1860s. Ismail Pasha, who was then ruler of Egypt, handed over the task of modeling Cairo after Paris to Ali Pasha. The square was originally named Maidan Ismailia after the 19th-century ruler Khedive Ismail who commissioned the new downtown district’s design. It was renamed Maidan al-Tahrir in 1954 after the 1952 Egyptian revolution that turned Egypt from a constitutional monarchy into a republic. The 1952 upheaval was led by Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Tahrir in Arabic means ‘liberation’. Tahrir Square has been the traditional spot for many major protests, including the 1977 bread riots that took place after the government decided to withdraw subsidies to basic foodstuffs. Al-Jazeera reported that the area, on which the square is located, has been historically significant to the Egyptian capital since 13th century. However, it took its current shape only in late 19th century.
The square was designed by Ali Pasha Mubarak, Egypt’s public works minister in the 1860s. Ismail Pasha, who was then ruler of Egypt, handed over the task of modeling Cairo after Paris to Ali Pasha. The square was originally named Maidan Ismailia after the 19th-century ruler Khedive Ismail who commissioned the new downtown district’s design. It was renamed Maidan al-Tahrir in 1954 after the 1952 Egyptian revolution that turned Egypt from a constitutional monarchy into a republic. The 1952 upheaval was led by Gamal Abdel Nasser.
