The April 6 Youth Movement, one of the largest revolutionary groups in Egypt, has announced that it will join other political forces in a rally on 12 August in Tahrir Square to call for the establishment of a civil state.

Sufi, Coptic and liberal forces have called the Friday rally in Tahrir to counter the rising tide of conservative Islamist forces which are calling for a religious state. They plan a mass Iftar (breaking the fast) to be followed by a musical concert featuring legendary singer Ali El-Haggar.

Members of the movement said that they had no plans to turn Friday's action into a sit-in in the square. However, they also sent a clear warning to the government not to trample on the right of citizens to protest peacefully, in a clear reference to repeated attacks by the ruling military council on peaceful protesters in the last 10 days.