Millions stage anti-govt. rally in Cairo

Millions of Egyptians have converged on Liberation Square in the capital, Cairo, to demand the trial of former president Hosni Mubarak and his associates.

Egypt’s powerful Muslim Brotherhood opposition movement and several other political parties decided to join the protests on Friday.

People and opposition activists began arriving in the landmark square throughout the night to set up their tents.

Cairo’s Liberation Square has been the focal point of the Egyptian Revolution that toppled the Mubarak regime.

Reports say thousands of protesters have also gathered at main squares in the two coastal cities of Suez and Alexandria.

The revolutionaries say they will keep protesting until their demands are met. They urge Egypt’s military rulers to speed up promised democratic reforms.

Many are complaining that more and more civilians are being tried in military courts while members of Mubarak’s regime have not yet faced justice.

A report by Human Rights Watch estimates that Egypt’s ruling junta has tried more than 5,000 civilians in military tribunals.

Many of them were protesters detained during anti-government demonstrations in February that toppled Mubarak.

The rallies come after several police officers accused of killing protesters were released on bail on Tuesday

Also on Tuesday, a court cleared at least six former ministers of ousted President Mubarak’s era of graft.

“The people were shocked at the verdict exonerating six former ministers on charges of corruption and wasting public funds, and the release of officers suspected of killing revolutionaries. So we are here today to announce our rejection of this deferral of justice, as well as the pampering of the former president and his family. We reject all of this completely,” Reuters quoted Metwally Mohamed Metwally, an active member of the Muslim Brotherhood, as saying.

Following Mubarak’s downfall, a military council took over in Egypt. Many Egyptians believe it is trying to derail the uprising.

Egyptians are still skeptical about a rapid transition towards democracy and civilian rule in the North African country.