Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    November 25, 2011

Protesters Pack Cairo's Tahrir Square, Despite Government's Concessions

   VOA News
   A demonstrator uses a portable loudspeaker as he shouts slogans against
   the military council during a mass protest in Alexandria, in support of
   mass protests in Tahrir square in Cairo, November 25, 2011. Photo:
   Reuters
   A demonstrator uses a portable loudspeaker as he shouts slogans against
   the military council during a mass protest in Alexandria, in support of
   mass protests in Tahrir square in Cairo, November 25, 2011.

   Tens of thousand of Egyptians gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on
   Friday where they pressed their demand for an end to military rule
   despite the ruling military's appointment of a new prime minister.
   The number of protesters has continued to swell over the past week, in
   spite of a series of concessions announced by the leadership. At least
   41 people have been killed in protest-related clashes across the
   country.
   The unrest is taking place as Egypt prepares for the start of
   parliamentary elections on Monday. It will be the first polling since
   former President Hosni Mubarak's February resignation amid a popular
   uprising.
   On Friday, Egyptian authorities announced that voting will take place
   over two days, instead of one day. Reuters news quotes an Interior
   Ministry official as saying the change is designed to ease concerns
   about overcrowding and security issues.
   Earlier Friday, newly appointed Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri said
   he would not be able to form a new Cabinet before Monday's polling. He
   also said military rulers had given him more authority than his
   predecessor, Essam Sharaf.
   Former Prime Minister Sharaf's civilian Cabinet resigned earlier this
   week, as part of the government's concessions to protesters. The
   government also announced that presidential elections would be held
   before July 2012.
   The concessions have had little impact on the sentiments of protesters.
   Some protesters touted Friday's so-called "million-man" rally as the
   "last chance" for the military council to quit. The French news agency
   said the imam leading noon prayers in Tahrir Square urged demonstrators
   to stay in the square until their demands were met.
   Both the U.S. and the European Union on Friday urged Egypt to speed up
   the transition to civilian government.
   Meanwhile, supporters of the military council held a separate rally on
   Friday to express unity with the country's military leaders.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
   Join the conversation on our social journalism site - [1]Middle East
   Voices. Follow our Middle East reports on [2]Twitter and discuss them
   on our [3]Facebook page.

References

   1. http://middleeastvoices.com/
   2. http://twitter.com/VOAMiddleEast
   3. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667?%20%20%20%20v=wall

.