CAIRO: Tens of thousands of Egyptians massed in Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square Friday two months after Hosni Mubarak was ousted, to demand that former regime officials including the veteran strongman be purged and tried. Waving flags and holding banners in a protest dubbed the “Day of Trial and Cleansing,” protesters vowed to press the ruling military council to deliver on promises of reform and justice. Regular rallies have been held since Mubarak was toppled on Feb. 11, but the numbers were significantly higher this week because of the participation of the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and most organized opposition movement. Hossam Bahjat, who heads the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, said the protests had been successful. “People are coming primarily to keep the momentum. The transition process has so far lacked predictability,” Bahjat said. “The Friday protests have so far been effective in getting two or three concessions each time.” Earlier, draped in Egyptian flags, Muslims were joined by Christians for weekly prayers during which Muslim cleric Safwat Al-Hejazi called for Mubarak to face criminal charges. “We don't only want to try him for the millions (of dollars) but also for the blood,” he told the crowd. “We want to try him just as he tried the people in state security courts, but we want a popular trial.” Mubarak, his wife Suzanne and their two sons Alaa and Gamal and their wives have already been banned from travel and have had their assets frozen. Seven army officers on Friday defied a warning from the ruling military council and joined the protesters in Tahrir Square calling for the trial of former regime elements. “Our demands are your demands. We want a civilian government. We want to try corrupt people,” one said from a podium to raucous cheers from the crowd. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, that took power after president Hosni Mubarak was ousted on Feb. 11, warned that anyone protesting in military uniform on Friday would face trial in a military court. “We are army officers. Show them our ID cards,” said one officer. They then all held up their identification cards to more cheers from the crowd and chants of “the people want the ouster of the Field Marshal” in reference to Hussein Tantawi who heads the military council and who was Mubarak's defense minister for two decades. — AgenciesCaption: Public demand Protesters hold up a caricature of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak carrying “people's money” in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Friday. (Reuters) __
