The Muslim Brotherhood on Tuesday held its first public protest against Egypt’s military rulers when thousands of students at Al-Azhar University demonstrated calling for the removal of the cabinet.
Around 4,000 students protested inside the campus of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, calling for the Muslim Brotherhood to form a new government, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported.
The Facebook page of the Freedom and Justice Party reported that a similar protest was held in Al-Azhar University’s branch in Daqahlia calling for the removal of Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri's government.
Since last month, the Brotherhood has grown more critical of the Ganzouri government, who was appointed by the army in November and is due to serve until mid-year when a new president takes over.
The group wants the military to dismiss the current cabinet and appoint a new government that reflects the balance of power in Parliament, a demand that has strained the awkward accommodation that has marked ties between the generals and the mainstream Islamists.
According to the Constitutional Declaration, only the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has the right to appoint and discharge the cabinet.
Tension flared this week between the Islamists and the ruling generals. The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party newsletter foresaw “mass protests to confront the government.”
The students raised banners to call for the restoration of security across Egypt and chanted, “Let's work together to rescue Egypt. We, Al-Azhar students, call for a strong government.”
The students said they will continue protesting until the current government is dismissed and the Brotherhood forms a government capable of responding to the demands in the street.
Campus security guards did not intervene in the protest.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
