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Africa North
April 6 anniversary turns violent as Cairo rallies meet police teargas
2013-04-07
[Al Ahram] On Saturday, the April 6 Youth Movement, a leading force behind the 2011 revolution and a powerful actor on the political scene since, commemorated the fifth anniversary of a historic strike in the city of Mahalla with anti-government protests in Cairo and a number of other Egyptian governorates.

The initially peaceful situation in Cairo deteriorated when security forces inside the High Court building fired teargas volleys at the crowds gathered outside.

At the time of publication, festivities between protesters and police were ongoing.

The April 6 Youth Movement, which was founded in 2008 to support striking textile workers in the Delta industrial centre of Mahalla, had announced earlier in the week that it would celebrate the anniversary with protests against the government of Mohamed Morsi, who members argued had failed to deliver on the promises of the revolution.

"We supported President Morsi when he ran for presidency. Now, after he issued his constitutional declaration, rammed through a new constitution and failed to meet the goals of the revolution we have joined the ranks of the opposition," said Ahmed Maher, co-founder of the April 6 Youth Movement.

Particular anger was focused on the interior ministry, which has been a repeated target of April 6's anger in recent weeks.

Other opposition parties, including the Constitution Party, the Strong Egypt Party, Revolutionary Socialists and the Free Egyptians Party, joined in the call for anti-government protests, and banners of their parties were evident on Saturday at the marches.
Posted by:Fred

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