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As Egypt Marks 3rd Anniversary of Uprising, Not All Celebrate Not All Egyptians Cheer Uprising’s 3rd Anniversary
(about 4 hours later)
CAIRO — Thousands of Egyptians celebrated the third anniversary of their revolt against autocracy on Saturday by holding a giant rally for Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi, the military leader who ousted the country’s first democratically elected president last summer and now stands poised to succeed him. CAIRO — Thousands of Egyptians celebrated the third anniversary of their revolt against autocracy on Saturday by holding a rally for the military leader who ousted the country’s first democratically elected president, while elsewhere at least 29 people died in clashes with security forces at anti-government protests.
Smaller demonstrations organized by Islamists and left-leaning activists held counterdemonstrations against the military takeover, in one case chanting back and forth against each other as much as against their common foe, the new government. But within as little as 15 minutes, riot police officers began firing tear-gas cannons and shooting guns into the air, swiftly dispersing the protests and leaving the day to General Sisi. Smaller demonstrations organized by Islamists and left-leaning activists held counterdemonstrations against the military takeover. But within as little as 15 minutes, riot police officers began firing tear-gas cannons and shooting guns into the air, swiftly dispersing the protests and leaving the day to the military leader, Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi.
The police used more force elsewhere. At least 16 people were killed in clashes with officers around the country, including at least 13 in greater Cairo, security officials said, and more than 430 were arrested in Cairo. The violence escalated as the day went on. The Way of the Revolution Front, a group opposed to the Islamists as well as the military takeover, urged its supporters to retreat from the streets in the face of what it called “the excessive force that police are using against whoever tries to express their opinion.”
Coming a day after four bombings around the capital killed at least six people and clashes with the police killed another eight, the rally for General Sisi attested to the momentum behind his presumed presidential campaign. But the enthusiasm also hinted at some of the outsize expectations he may face in office, as some heralded him as the savior of Egypt and its revolutionary dreams. By 10 p.m., health officials said the death toll from clashes with the police had reached 29. Most of those who died were killed in the Cairo area, security officials said, and more than 430 were arrested there.
Hassan Shehab, 52, a shopkeeper who carried through the rally a poster of a son killed by security forces during the 2011 uprising, said he believed General Sisi would “turn Egypt from a third-world country to a first-world country” while bringing justice for the revolution’s “martyrs.” In the canal city of Suez, a car bomb at a police camp wounded four officers, the latest in a campaign of attacks on security forces since the military takeover. The violence on Saturday came a day after four bombings around the capital killed at least six people and clashes with the police killed another eight. But the government appeared determined to prevent any of the protests or deaths from dimming the spectacle of the rally for General Sisi, or the momentum of his presumed presidential campaign.
“He will hold the police accountable and put them on trial, as soon as they get rid of the terrorism of the Muslim Brotherhood,” Mr. Shehab said. If not, “there will be another revolution,” he added, advising General Sisi not to “risk the trust of 90 million people.” The enthusiasm of his supporters, however, also hinted at some of the outsize expectations he might face in office.
Hassan Shehab, 52, a shopkeeper carrying a poster of a son killed by security forces during the 2011 uprising, said he believed General Sisi would “turn Egypt from a third-world country to a first-world country” while bringing justice for the revolution’s “martyrs.”
“He will hold the police accountable and put them on trial, as soon as they get rid of the terrorism of the Muslim Brotherhood,” Mr. Shehab said.
The Brotherhood, an eight-decades-old missionary group, sponsored the most successful party in Egypt’s free elections in 2011 and 2012. Its candidate, Mohamed Morsi, became president and held that position until he was ousted by the military in July amid swelling street protests against him.The Brotherhood, an eight-decades-old missionary group, sponsored the most successful party in Egypt’s free elections in 2011 and 2012. Its candidate, Mohamed Morsi, became president and held that position until he was ousted by the military in July amid swelling street protests against him.
The military has been portraying the Brotherhood as a terrorist threat ever since. On Friday, government officials quickly blamed the it or the day’s four bombings. The military has been portraying the Brotherhood as a terrorist threat ever since. On Friday, government officials quickly blamed it for the day’s four bombings.
By Saturday, though, a young Islamist militant group calling itself Ansar Beit al-Maqdis had claimed responsibility for them on jihadi websites. A Sinai-based group whose name means Supporters of Jerusalem, the organization has claimed responsibility for a campaign of bombings and assassinations targeting security forces since the authorities began a deadly crackdown on the Brotherhood and other Islamists. Ansar Beit al-Maqdis and the Brotherhood are publicly critical of each other, but supporters of the new government insist they are one and the same.By Saturday, though, a young Islamist militant group calling itself Ansar Beit al-Maqdis had claimed responsibility for them on jihadi websites. A Sinai-based group whose name means Supporters of Jerusalem, the organization has claimed responsibility for a campaign of bombings and assassinations targeting security forces since the authorities began a deadly crackdown on the Brotherhood and other Islamists. Ansar Beit al-Maqdis and the Brotherhood are publicly critical of each other, but supporters of the new government insist they are one and the same.
“We tell our dear nation that these attacks were only the first drops of rain, so wait for what is coming up,” Ansar Beit al-Maqdis declared in its statement taking responsibility, according to a report by The Associated Press. The group warned Egyptians “to stay away from the police and security headquarters,” adding, “We try to avoid inflicting harm to the Muslims.” “We tell our dear nation that these attacks were only the first drops of rain, so wait for what is coming up,” Ansar Beit al-Maqdis declared, according to The Associated Press. The group warned Egyptians “to stay away from the police and security headquarters,” adding, “We try to avoid inflicting harm to the Muslims.”
Many who remembered marching to Tahrir Square on Jan. 25, 2011, described a feeling of depression on Saturday at the thought of the hallowed ground of their revolt now cheering a new military leader. Many who remembered marching to Tahrir Square on Jan. 25, 2011, described a feeling of depression on Saturday at the thought of the cheers for the new military leader on the hallowed ground of their revolt.
“I have never had so many of my friends in jail, arrested only for expressing their own opinions,” said Rami Shaath, 42, a left-leaning activist and executive for a technology company preparing for a short-lived march from a mosque in Giza.“I have never had so many of my friends in jail, arrested only for expressing their own opinions,” said Rami Shaath, 42, a left-leaning activist and executive for a technology company preparing for a short-lived march from a mosque in Giza.
The Islamist militants and the authoritarian state “feed off of each other,” he said, the militants crusading against the corruption of the state and the state using the fear of terrorism to justify limiting freedoms. “But people will return to their senses and refuse the oppression and, if we are alive, we are here for them,” he said.The Islamist militants and the authoritarian state “feed off of each other,” he said, the militants crusading against the corruption of the state and the state using the fear of terrorism to justify limiting freedoms. “But people will return to their senses and refuse the oppression and, if we are alive, we are here for them,” he said.
By Saturday evening, the left-leaning April 6 group was circulating pictures of the body of one of its members it said had been shot by police. By Saturday evening, the left-leaning April 6 group was circulating pictures of the body of one of its members, Sayed Wizza, who it said had been shot by police at a demonstration in Cairo.
Hassam Badry, 53, an account manager, said he had come to attend the competing Brotherhood-organized antimilitary rally across the street, though he said he was not part of the group. “I voted last year for a constitution, before that for parliament, for a president, and now my vote is gone,” he said. “That is what I want back, my vote, not Morsi.”Hassam Badry, 53, an account manager, said he had come to attend the competing Brotherhood-organized antimilitary rally across the street, though he said he was not part of the group. “I voted last year for a constitution, before that for parliament, for a president, and now my vote is gone,” he said. “That is what I want back, my vote, not Morsi.”
The thousands who gathered in Tahrir Square on Saturday, however, appeared overjoyed at the prospect of a President Sisi. Banners, posters and T-shirts emblazoned with his face were everywhere. Some revelers wore Sisi face masks, while women ululated and chanted his name. Poster vendors sold a choice of two Sisi’s: one wearing a military uniform and dark sunglasses, the other smiling in a civilian suit, perhaps a nod to his next job. The thousands who gathered in Tahrir Square on Saturday, however, appeared overjoyed at the prospect of a President Sisi. Banners, posters and T-shirts emblazoned with his face were everywhere. Some revelers wore Sisi face masks, while women ululated and chanted his name. Military helicopters flew low overhead throughout the day, at least once dropping flags on the crowds below.
Military helicopters flew low overhead throughout the day, at least once dropping flags on the crowds below. The police were ubiquitous on Saturday, some in uniform and others in plain clothes. Armored vehicles and barbed wire were at the entrances. Martial music boomed from loudspeakers.
The police, effectively forbidden to enter the square for more than a year after the 2011 uprising, were ubiquitous on Saturday, some in uniform and others in plain clothes. Armored vehicles and barbed wire were at the entrances. Martial music boomed from loudspeakers along with the usual patriotic anthems.
“We are celebrating the success of the army in fighting terrorism,” said Ali Hassan, 40, a tourist company employee. He was leaving the square, he said, to bring back his family, after he was sure it was safe from attack.“We are celebrating the success of the army in fighting terrorism,” said Ali Hassan, 40, a tourist company employee. He was leaving the square, he said, to bring back his family, after he was sure it was safe from attack.