Thousands rally in Egypt's Tahrir Square - Middle East. Thousands of people have gathered in Tahrir Square in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, rallying for different causes. Activists had called for a mass show of unity on Friday, a week after 15 people were killed in sectarian violence in the country. But many of those gathered in the square were there to show their support for Palestinian unity, ahead of "Nakba day", marking the creation of the state of Israel and displacement of thousands of Palestinians. Demonstrators also celebrated the reconciliation deal signed recently between Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions. Meanwhile, a few hundred Copts staged a sit-in outside the state television headquarters, calling for justice over the weekend's sectarian violence. Footage from Tahrir Square showed people waving Palestinian flags and banners with slogans for Egyptian national unity. Call for Gaza march Egyptian authorities on Friday blocked access to the Sinai peninsula to prevent a march from Cairo to Gaza.
Sectarian violence. Egyptian Radicals’ Turn to Democracy Alarms Some. Andrea Bruce for The New York Times Abboud al-Zomor's family's home is in Nahia, outside Cairo. Mr. Zomor, imprisoned in President Anwar el-Sadat's killing, says he has no need for violence now. More Photos » “The ballot boxes will decide who will win at the end of the day,” Mr. Zomor said during an interview in his large family compound in this hamlet on Cairo’s western edge. “There is no longer any need for me to use violence against those who gave us our freedom and allowed us to be part of political life.” In its drive to create a perfect Islamic state, his and other groups like it were once synonymous with some of the bloodiest terrorist attacks in Egypt.
The public approval of the constitutional amendments on March 19 provided an early example of Islamist political muscle, the victory achieved in no small part by framing the yes vote as a religious duty. Mr. Several reasons lie behind this remarkable turnabout, according to senior religious sheiks, junior members and experts. Egypt Youths Play New Role - Driving a Revolt. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was surrounded by reporters as he arrived in Cairo on Thursday.
More Photos » He tolerated a tiny and toothless opposition of liberal intellectuals whose vain electoral campaigns created the facade of a democratic process. And he demonized the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood as a group of violent extremists who posed a threat that he used to justify his police state. But this enduring and, many here say, all too comfortable relationship was upended this week by the emergence of an unpredictable third force, the leaderless tens of thousands of young Egyptians who turned out to demand an end to Mr. Mubarak’s 30-year rule. Now the older opponents are rushing to catch up. Dr. But their readiness — tens of thousands have braved tear gas, rubber bullets and security police officers notorious for torture — has threatened to upstage or displace the traditional opposition groups.
Dr. And Dr.