Egypt’s political forces take to Tahrir for ‘Self-Determination Friday’

As Egypt’s Islamist, liberal and leftist forces gather in Tahrir Square to demonstrate against former regime remnants and continued military rule, Ahram Online brings you a blow-by-blow account of Friday’s million-man protest.

Tens of thousands of protesters have gathered in Tahrir Square to kick off the planned “Self-Determination” Friday million-man demonstration.
Eight podiums have already been set up by a variety of political forces throughout the square, including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Revolutionary Youth Coalition, the April 6 Youth Movement and supporters of eliminated presidential hopeful Sheikh Hazem Abu-Ismail.

Tharir Squar Live Friday April 20

Over 30 political groups and parties from Islamist, liberal and leftist forces in the country have already announced their plans to participate in the upcoming mass protests in Tahrir Square as well across the country in what many hope could be the start of a new national consensus on the direction of Egypt post-Mubarak.

The demands of liberal and leftist powers and movements included issuing the “Disfranchisement Law” barring former regime figures from top political jobs, as well as holding former regime icons accountable, ending emergency law, cancelling Article 28 of the March 2011 Constitutional Declaration that governs the upcoming presidential elections, and forming a Constituent Assembly to write the constitution that would represent all sectors of Egyptian society.