Celebrations commemorating Egypt's 23 July 1952 Free Officers' Revolution began after Taraweeh prayers (traditionally performed following evening prayers during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan) in the Omar Makram Mosque, located adjacent to Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

A large stage, situated near the entrance of Talaat Harb Street, was adorned with pictures of late president and revolutionary icon Gamal Abdel-Nasser, along with other national figures – Saad Zaghloul, Mostafa Kamel and Ahmed Orabi – who distinguished themselves in the fight against the British occupation of Egypt.  

Images of slain Coptic-Christian activist Mina Daniel, killed during last October's Maspero clashes between demonstrators and military personnel, could also been seen on the main stage.

Hundreds turned out to participate in the celebrations, with many singing patriotic songs commemorating Egypt’s 1952 Revolution.

“The achievements of Egypt’s 23 July Revolution are many; and the January 25 Revolution is a continuation of it,” said Nabil Kamal, a 50-year-old Egyptian who attended the event, told Ahram Online.

“We’re not only celebrating Nasser, but all of Egypt’s revolutionary figures – but not Sadat or Mubarak,” said veteran television reporter Hussein Abdel-Ghani, speaking from the stage.

Former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi – who came in third place in the first round of Egypt's hotly-contested presidential election in May – mounted the stage at 9:30pm. "The president is here," his supporters chanted enthusiastically.

At one point, Sabbahi was joined by leftist MP and head of Egypt's Independent Union of Real Estate Tax Agency Employees Kamal Abu-Eita.  

At around 10:30pm, a fistfight erupted between three men who claimed to be members of the Muslim Brotherhood and activists, after the latter began to repeat anti-Brotherhood slogans, Al-Ahram's Arabic-language news website reported. The three men were eventually asked to leave, according to Al-Ahram.

A parallel event devoted to commemorating Daniel's memory, meanwhile, took place on the nearby Mohamed Mahmoud Street. The event was held to mark the 21st birthday of the Coptic activist who was killed alongside 26 other protesters during last year's Maspero clashes.

Amid a highly festive atmosphere, a band prepared to perform on the stage surrounded by hundreds of protesters – including a large number of 'Ultras' football fans – who beat drums and repeated revolutionary songs and slogans. "Down with military rule," they chanted.

Activists waved flags depicting slain activist Daniel – now an iconic image frequently seen during protests and clashes – along with others depicting Mohamed Mohsen, another activist killed exactly one year ago during a march on Egypt’s defense ministry.   

Participants at the event also screened a documentary film commemorating Daniel, along with another film devoted to social rights and unemployment. The documentaries were produced as part of a newly-launched anti-military campaign entitled "They're Stealing our Bread and Butter."

Daniel's sister, Mary, was also present at the event, where she called on activists to remember both Daniel and Mohsen in their prayers. “This is the real Egypt – everyone standing together as one hand,” she said.

Ahmed Harara, who lost his second eye on Mohamed Mahmoud Street (he lost the first during the 28 February “Friday of Rage”) also participated, together with several other injured protestors, some of whom attended the event in their wheelchairs.

“I was frustrated with what has been happening in recent days, and with what the Brotherhood have been doing. But now, standing here, I’m proud,” said Harara. His remarks were met with chants of “Down with military rule” and “Down with the rule of the Supreme Guide [of the Muslim Brotherhood].”  

Popular band Eskendrella, along with singer Ali El-Haggar, were both expected to perform imminently.

A number of political forces could be seen attending the celebrations on Mohamed Mahmoud Street, including the anti-military Kazeboon campaign, the Popular Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, the National Front for Justice and Democracy, and the Revolutionary Socialists, amongst others.  

Days earlier,  Ahmed Maher, founder of Egypt's April 6 Youth Movement (which played a prominent role in last year's Tahrir Square uprising), for his part, called on Egyptians to use the occasion to stage protests against military rule and Egypt's military council.

On Friday, Maher declared on Twitter that, if mass gatherings were to take place on 23 July, they should be held to demand the end of military rule – not to celebrate "the military's revolution." Maher added that "the only true Egyptian revolution was last year's January 25 Revolution."

In reaction, Mostafa Abdullah, member of the Nasserist current in the Upper Egyptian city of Qena, told Al-Ahram's Arabic-language news website that Maher's statement was "provocative." He added that the "glorious July [1952] Revolution can't be erased from the history of Egypt and the Arab world."

On Sunday evening, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi – who hails from the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood which was persecuted by the Nasser regime in the 1950s and 1960s – congratulated Egyptians on the occasion of the 1952 Revolution's 60th anniversary.