Egyptians stand their ground on Tahrir "battlefield" (Feature)

By Aya Batrawy and Nehal el-Sherif Feb 4, 2011, 16:53 GMT

Cairo - The large open public area in Egypt's densely populated capital city earned the name Tahrir, or liberation, Square, after the revolution that ended British occupation in 1952.

Now locals call it Egypt's 'battlefield for democracy,' as it has become one of the focal points for the protests that began on January 25.

Barbed wire and military tanks line the entrances to Tahrir Square, where hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters have been converging for 11 days.

Friday, which anti-government protesters dubbed the 'Day of Departure,' was pivotal. Thousands once more defied the military curfew to return to Tahrir to demand the resignation of President Hosny Mubarak and the introduction of democratic reforms.

Among them were men and women, the old and young, rich and poor, Muslim and Christian.

Many bore the scars of a horrific stand-off with Mubarak's supporters earlier this week, and have stockpiled stones and rocks, in case the government supporters return.

Many of Mubarak's supporters had come on horseback and on camels, others were armed with sticks, rocks, knives and guns. Some of the rioters and members of the pro-Mubarak camp were later exposed as security officers.

The makeshift operation centre in the square, is lodged between two buildings, down a narrow alley littered with trash. While antibiotics and painkillers were available, they were in short supply.

Mohamed Abdel-Moneim Mohamed, one of dozens of volunteer medics working in Tahrir, said about 200 people were brought in for treatment every hour during fierce clashes Wednesday.

'People were coming in here with critical wounds. They had broken bones, some lost an eye, others had internal bleeding. We would lay them on these mats and stitch them up as best we could,' Mohamed told the German Press Agency dpa.

He said that Mubarak supporters were also treated for injuries.

On Friday, some protesters were limping around, with what appeared to be bullet wounds in their legs, while others had burns on their hands and faces from Molotov cocktails used in the clashes.

For those coming to the square to peacefully voice their opinion, the clashes provided only more reason to protest.

'I want stability in the country, but Mubarak is the reason for chaos, the government is the reason for chaos,' said Madiha Dos, a Cairo University professor.

'The only way for stability in the country is for him to leave,' she said.

'Nobody here voted for him (Mubarak). He has been ruling by fraud. He doesn't know what people on the street want,' said Mahmoud Hassan, a 50-year-old accountant.

'He wants the people to stay illiterate and hungry so that they don't think about their freedom, just about putting food on the table,' Hassan told dpa.

The protesters have rejected Mubarak's pledge that he will not run for re-election in September, along with his newly appointed government and its promise of constitutional reform.

One man held a noose from atop a lamp post in Tahrir with a sign saying: 'This is waiting for you Mubarak.'

A banner, several metres long, hung from the top of a nearby building and included, among other demands, that Mubarak and members of his government to be tried for crimes against the people.

'I want stability, I want to get married and I want to live well, despite the fact that I do not have connections with powerful people,' said Mohamed Ali, a young construction worker, who has been protesting in the square for more than a week.

Ali, whose head was bandaged from wounds suffered during this week's clashes, earns just 350 Egyptian pounds (60 dollars) a month.

Since the nationwide protests erupted last month, more than 5,000 people have been injured in the unrest, according to the Health Ministry.

'In all honestly, before this revolt started, I looked like a man, but I never felt like one,' Ali said. 'I never had respect and anyone could ask me for my ID and abuse me because I am poor. Now I feel empowered.'

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