Protesters marched to Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday to join thousands there demanding democratic change, a year after the uprising that toppled veteran president Hosni Mubarak. After noon prayers, organised marches left Cairo mosques and headed for the square, the symbolic heart of the Egyptian uprising, on a day dubbed "the Friday of Pride and Dignity" by the dozens of pro-democracy groups organising the rallies.
"Down with military rule!", shouted demonstrators who left the Istiqama mosque in Giza, echoing the growing discontent over the military junta's handling of the transition. "Legitimacy comes from the square," they chanted, clapping and waving flags.
In Tahrir, thousands had gathered in prayer in the centre of the square, among the tents that marked a sit-in launched on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the start of the uprising. Sheikh Mazhar Shahin, the imam leading the prayers, said that while the revolt had produced notable achievements, the journey towards democratic rule was far from over. "People came out on January 25, 2011 to call for freedom, justice, dignity and the end of a regime that spread all forms of corruption," Shahin told the crowd.
"They managed to remove the head of the regime in just 18 days and put some of its symbols behind bars. However, the revolution has not achieved all its goals and that is what brought people out on the streets again on the first anniversary," Shahin said. Mubarak is currently on trial in Cairo, facing accusations of involvement in the killing of protesters. His two sons Alaa and Gamal and several of his ministers are also in custody on charges of corruption.
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