Thousands of Egyptians marked New Year's Eve in Cairo's Tahrir Square with songs and psalms. They were accompanied by a number of singers, poets and media figures.
Thousands marched to Tahrir from the nearby Kasr al-Dobara church, carrying photos of protesters killed in the January uprising that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak.
Coptic psalms were recited on a stage erected in the middle of the square, while some protesters chanted slogans expressing unity between Copts and Muslims and disapproval of the ruling military council.
Singers Ramy Essam, Azza Balbaa and Ali al-Haggar, poets Sayyed Hageb and Abdel Rahman Youssef and parliamentary candidate Gameela Ismail attended the celebrations.
Sheikh Mazhar Shahin, imam of Omar Makram mosque, said some young revolutionaries invited him to the event, adding that he attended the celebration to congratulate Christians for Christmas.
The mother of Khaled Saeed, who was tortured to death by police officers in 2010, was also in attendance. Mrs. Saeed said she will take part in celebrations marking the anniversary of the beginning of the revolution. She voiced her hope that the goals of the revolution will be achieved.
The celebration ended early Sunday, and security sources said traffic returned to normal.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
