Egypt: More than 110 hurt in 2nd anniversary protests

Last Updated 1:47 p.m. ET

CAIRO

Two years after Egypt's revolution began, the country's schism was on display Friday as the mainly liberal and secular opposition held rallies saying the goals of the pro-democracy uprising have not been met and denouncing Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

With the anniversary, Egypt is definitively in the new phase of its upheaval.

28 Photos

Riots mark 2nd anniv. of Egypt revolution

Tens of thousands massed in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where the 2011 uprising began, and outside Morsi's palace, with more heading to join them from other districts. Banners outside the palace proclaimed, "No to the corrupt Muslim Brotherhood government" and "Two years since the revolution, where is social justice?" Others demonstrated outside the state TV and radio building overlooking the Nile.

Similar if smaller crowds gathered in most of Egypt's main cities, including the Mediterranean cities of Alexandria. The protesters chanted the iconic slogans of the revolt against Mubarak, this time directed against Morsi — "Erhal! Erhal!" or "leave, leave" and "the people want to topple the regime."

Clashes erupted in multiple places between police firing tear gas and protesters throwing stones — in side streets around Tahrir, in Alexandria and the city of Suez and in six other cities. Outside the gates of the presidential palace in Cairo, masked protesters tried to push through a police barricade, prompting a barrage of tear gas by security forces.

In two towns in the Nile Delta, Menouf and Shibeen el-Koum, protesters blocked railway lines, disrupting train services to and from Cairo.

An Egyptian protester evacuates an injured boy during clashes near Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013.

/ AP Photo/Khalil Hamra

At least 119 people were injured in the clashes around the country, the head of the national ambulances services, Mohammed Sultan, told privately owned CBC TV. He did not give details on the nature or location of the injuries.

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The immediate goal of the protesters is a show of strength to push Morsi to amend the constitution, which was pushed through by his Islamist allies and rushed through a national referendum. But more broadly, protesters are trying to show the extent of public anger against what they call the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, the organization Morsi hails from, which they say is taking over the state rather than setting up a broad-based democracy.

Protester Ehab Menyawi said he felt no personal animosity against the Brotherhood but opposed its approach toward Morsi as Egypt's first freely elected leader.

"The Brotherhood thinks that reform was achieved when their man came to power and that in itself is a guarantee for the end of corruption," he said as he marched from the upscale Cairo district of Mohandiseen to Tahrir with some 20,000 others.

An Egyptian protester lights flares during a demonstration in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square on January 25, 2013. Thousands of Egyptians marched on Tahrir Square to demand change, two years after the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak and ushered in an Islamist government, as sporadic clashes erupted nearby.

/ MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images

From the revolt that began Jan. 25, 2011 and led to the fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, the country has moved into a deeply divisive struggle between ruling Islamists, who say a string of election victories the past year gives them to right to reshape Egypt, and their opponents, who say Islamists are moving to take complete power.

Overshadowing their struggle is an economy in free-fall that threatens to fuel public discontent. The vital tourism sector has slumped, investment shriveled, foreign currency reserves have tumbled and prices are on the rise. More pain is likely in the coming months if the government implements unpopular new austerity measures.

"Today the Egyptian people continue their revolution," said Hamdeen Sabahi, a leading opposition leader who finished a close third in presidential elections held in June. "They are saying 'no' to the Brotherhood state ... We want a democratic constitution, social justice, to bring back the rights of the martyrs and guarantees for fair elections."

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[john5673]

If the majority has voted for the current government, it is the responsibilities of all Egyptians to make peace with each other and allow the elected government to rule the nation with their plans in peaceful environment and if the plans and programs are not right let the authorities know it through peaceful and meaningful protests and rallies, but just to demand new election or continue break the laws will cripple the nation. The agents of the old regime are not happy and they are continuing such anti-national activities, and must be stopped at all cost.

[2chainz4bracelets]

At the time that Morsi was elected president what other choices did they have. Initially the ballot contained dozens of candidates from dozens of different political parties, the two most popular being Ahmed Shafik who was a highly involved member of the Mubarak regime,and sorry excuse for a president Morsi.Shafik had promised that if he was elected, that pretty much everyone who was involved in corruption during the mubarak regime could continue as they please, and that there would be an end to protests by force. Morsi and the muslim brotherhood on the other hand promised that they would change egypt in to a truly democratic country and give religous minorities the rights they deserved, while rebuilding and restrengthing the economy, and they haven't made true on their promises. The way I see it, it's as if the country was one partner in a relationship, Mubarak, the previous partner, was a cheater, liar and scumbag, when they finally had enough they had the choice of choosing his scumbag brother, Shafik, or trying a new route, Morsi. Morsi has obviously turned out to be much worse, because even with mubarak, at least the economy wasn't being blown to kingdom come.

[zmonkee]

here are just two of the things hilary is awful at, per her job description:

Negotiates, interprets, and terminates treaties and agreements; (why are we still giving them fighter jets, after the brotherhood took control)

Ensures the protection of the U.S. Government to American citizens, property, and interests in foreign countries- (do I even have to spell this one out)

[zmonkee]

We know hilary is a mess...that's why bill had Monica(apparently Bill was a little messy too, wink wink)-- but what's your point?

[ccb5508]

How did Hilary not get fired from her job?

[thelocustman]

Obama gives F-16 fighters and Abrams tanks to these terrorist but U.S. citizins can't have an AR-15?

[zmonkee]

Last I checked-- Israel didn't sack our embassy, burn our flag in front of it, and hang an Al Queda flag up in it's place-- but....to quote hillary....."at this point....does it really matter"??

[zmonkee]

slow...I kind of feel left out?

[raymailhot]

How is that Arab spring working? When you have democratly elected politicians without laws to protect the people, it is no different than any other tyranny! We do not grow by democracy, but by the bill of rights and we see this belief reinforced every day with the results of the Arab spring.

[aintfakin]

looks like Occupy Tahrir Square. Wonder why all the middle school right wingers in here aren't whining about their filth?
oh I see
its because they are protesting against islamists. I guess the right wing nuts will never realize they are the closest thing to islamists we have in this country

[zmonkee]

it's not our fault....it's the video we watched!! I blame the video!!

[Sosaythme]

No! You don't say! The Obama's Arab Spring turning into a Islamic Nightmare? Boy oh boy I bet nobody saw this coming, you could knock me over with a feather. Then I watch poor old hillary get grilled by those mean ol Senators who had the audacity to accuse The Obama of carrying out a middle east Fast and Furious from Bengazi. OH THE LIES! It was that video, we all know it was that awful video isn't that why that evil man was tossed in jail in California? Please Mr. Obama please set the record straight, say it ain't so, tell the world in your own words that you weren't running guns from Bengazi to muslim extremists and shut these awful rumors down...

[jgg000010]

actually, slow, mustard gas is classified as a wmd and it's common knowledge that hussein had already used it. And the thousands of corpses in the shallow graves proved it. Did we also find ricin, or deadly bacteria bombs and missiles? No.
But, amazingly, we also didn't find any traces of mustard gas or it's development.

[zmonkee]

I'll try to spell hypocrite.....O-B-A-M-A....hypocrite-

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a Sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. ...Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here'. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and Grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."

SENATOR BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, MARCH 2006

How'd I do Pete?

[SlimeBagObama]

I could care less what happens to Obama and his brothers in the Muslim Brotherhood.

[wfw3536]

And Obama is sending these criminals who are running Egypt almost 2 billion dollars in aid each year. Maybe some of the poor folks in our country could use that money, or he could actually invest it in a company that doesn't go bankrupt in less than 2 year like many of the green companies he picked.

[thetruthwillout]

Would you say that if Bush were in office and doing the same? I didn't think so. Just another cheap shot at Obama. Sore loser!

[raymailhot]

Why we would pick the dictator with the most likely cause to destroy all the minorities in Egypt is not real clear!

Thetruthwillout - you're an idiot!

[radarsound]

This is while the Washington DC elite send women into combat.
There are cautions for sending women in to report.

[jgg000010]

perhaaps it's time to revisit obama's cairo speech and recognize the downward spiral since obama has been president. And why are we gifting the muslim brotherhood F-16's and tanks? And why is this not being reported?

[zmonkee]

censorship.....so does that mean you are against obo giving them jets? You don't believe it's true....but let's say it is....are you for or against that?

[jgg000010]

slow, baby, where have you been? I missed you, hoped that everything was ok. Sorry, but I disagree with you about israel.
I don't see any stories emanating out of israel that even come close to those coming out of the rest of the middle east, and now North Africa. And even if they are a "terrorist state" as you claim, and which I also disagree with, the Israelis are much more rational and manageable than any other country in the middle east.