Cairo gathering to remember Arab Spring ‘martyrs’

Pro-democracy protesters have held a candlelight vigil in Cairo’s Tahrir Square in memory of those killed during the Egyptian uprising.

Some held pictures of friends and family members referring to them as ‘martyrs’.

The crowd chanted slogans against Egypt’s temporary military rulers and demanded justice for those killed.

Mahmoud Afify, a spokesman for the April 6 youth movement, said: “We are here to achieve our country’s demands and the targets of the revolution, which are to bring the killers of our martyrs to justice and to achieve freedom and social justice.”

Tensions have risen between the activists who brought down long time leader Hosni Mubarak and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces which has vowed to hand power to a civilian authority when a new president is elected.

Relations have since steadily worsened, hitting a new low this month when soldiers brutally beat protesters in Cairo clashes that left at least 18 people dead and dozens wounded.

Also on New Year’s Eve hundreds of Egyptians held a silent vigil in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria to commemorate the first anniversary of an explosion at ‘The Saints’ Coptic church.

Twenty one people were killed in the blast. No one has been brought to justice for the bombing.

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