More than 1000 protesters in Alexandria participated in a "Last Warning Friday" demonstration to protest recent attempts at reform by the interior minister, staging a march after Friday prayers that began at Leader Ibrahim Mosque and ended at the Alexandria Security Directorate.
Protesters held up coffins with the Quran placed on top of them.
Demonstrators had already decided to stage a protest in the Goumruk neighborhood in Alexandria before the reforms were announced, as they were opposed to the appointment of Major General Khaled Ghoraba as head of the Alexandria Security Directorate. New of proposed reforms, which included the mass dismissal at least 600 high-ranking officers, did not appear to appease the protesters, who then headed to the directorate itself, staged a symbolic demonstration, and returned to Saad Zaghloul Square to continue the sit-in they began nine days ago.
Protesters objected to the appointment of Ghoraba because he allegedly was a part of an effort to arrest activists planning the 25 January protests prior to the outbreak of the revolution.
The demonstrators chanted, "They said we were thugs when we demanded freedom," and raised banners that read, "Cancel the military trials of civilians,” "Prosecute the [former] president and his sons,” "Accelerate [measures] to recover the stolen funds from abroad," and "Today is a yellow card and tomorrow is a red one,” referring to the penalty cards referees hand out at football matches.
Although the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamic movements announced that they would not participate in the Friday demonstration, some Brotherhood members were nonetheless present, distributing invitations to the opening party for the new headquarters for its Freedom and Justice Party in Alexandria.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
