Cairo, February 05: The imam who led Friday’s prayer in Tahrir Square called on protesters, who continued to gather for the eleventh day, to maintain their resolve until they achieve their goal of ousting President Hosni Mubarak.
The imam, whose name is unknown, described what he called the “white revolution” as an Egyptian movement that includes both Muslim and Christians.
The revolution does not have a religious goal, said the imam, who added that Egyptians of all backgrounds are joining in. “They want us to be a humiliated people, an quiescent people, and an oppressed people… But no, and 1000 nos,” he said.
“Egypt taught the world dignity and democracy,” the preacher said. He called for freedom, democracy, regime change, the release of detainees and the abolition of Emergency Law.
He supported opposition parties’ decision to reject dialogue with the regime until the protesters’ demands are met.
“Do not leave the square until your demands are met… [maintain your] resolve until victory,” the preacher told the thousands gathered there.
After the prayer, tens of thousands of protesters sang the national anthem and chanted anti-regime slogans calling for Mubarak’s departure.
Witnesses said that Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi and a number of military leaders arrived at the square before the prayer and later left. According to these sources, Tantawi told the protesters who he met to leave the square.
–Agencies