Tuesday mass protests aim at Shafiq's disqualification from Egypt presidency race
Ahram Online, Monday 4 Jun 2012
Demonstrators on Tuesday plan to voice opposition to controversial Mubarak trial verdicts and presence of Mubarak-era premier Ahmed Shafiq in Egypt's presidential runoff vote


Revolutionary groups have called for mass protests across the country Tuesday against the verdict in the trial of former president Hosni Mubarak and his senior associates, and the candidacy of Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last premier, in the presidential election runoff.

The call has been endorsed by the Muslim Brotherhood and the eliminated presidential candidates who met on Monday to discuss proposals for establishing a presidential council, with the latter reiterating that Shafiq's disqualification from the presidential race represented a common objective.

On Saturday, Hosni Mubarak and his interior minister Habib El-Adly were handed life sentences for their role in the killing of peaceful protesters during last year’s uprising. Six of the latter's assistants were acquitted of similar charges.

In a separate corruption case, meanwhile, Mubarak, his two sons Alaa and Gamal, and Egyptian business tycoon Hussein Salem were all found not guilty.

The main march will depart from the Sayeda Zeinab mosque to Tahrir Square after sunset prayers.

In Mahalla, a march will begin at El-Shon Square, whilst in Banha a march will begin at the Nasser mosque.

In Assuit a protest outside the main government building will begin at 4pm.

A meeting of revolutionary groups on Saturday established a number of demands to press for during the revolution's current stage. Top of the agenda was the dismissal of the public prosecutor, a revolutionary trial for members of the former regime, application of the Disenfranchisement Law on Ahmed Shafiq, and the formation of a presidential council made up of Mohamed Morsi, Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh.

They also called for the Brotherhood to accept the 'pledge document' and the 'national consensus document'.

Freedom and Justice Party Vice Chairman Essam El-Erian has rejected the call for a presidential council, calling it unconstitutional. However, the Brotherhood announced it would take part in Tuesday's protest.

The Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi met with former presidential candidates Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh on Monday to discuss recent political developments and the presidential election runoff.

Among the groups taking part in Tuesday's protests will be the Revolution Youth Coalition, the Justice and Freedom Movement, the April 6 Youth Movement, the Popular Socialist Alliance Party, the Revolutionary Socialists and the Maspero Youth Union.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/43789.aspx