Islamist rally in Cairo
Egyptians crowd around to learn locations of their polling stations, a service provided on the street by Muslim Brotherhood, "the Freedom and Justice Party" in Cairo. On Nov. 28, millions of Egyptians will gather at the polls to vote in the first phase of parliamentary elections following the ousting of the Mubarak regime. Egyptians crowd around to learn locations of their polling stations, a service provided on the street by Muslim Brotherhood, "the Freedom and Justice Party" in Cairo. On Nov. 28, millions of Egyptians will gather at the polls to vote in the first phase of parliamentary elections following the ousting of the Mubarak regime.
Cairo - Hundreds of Islamists gathered on Friday in Cairo for a mass protest against planned constitutional amendments that would establish a civil state in the predominantly Muslim country and give the army the right to veto legislation on military issues.
The rally in the capital's iconic Tahrir Square is led by the influential Muslim Brotherhood. But it is also attracting other groups who want the country's military rulers to set a clear timetable for handing power over to a civilian administration.
Several other groups, among them the key liberal Al-Wafd party, plan to boycott the protest, arguing it is ill-timed.
“This protest is meant as a show of strength ahead of the parliamentary elections,” said the head of Al-Wafd, al-Sayyed al-Badawi.
Egyptians are to go to polls on November 28 to elect a new parliament.
The three-round elections will be Egypt's first since a popular revolt unseated former president Hosny Mubarak in February. - Sapa-dpa