Live Updates: Protests erupt across Egypt after surprise Mubarak ruling

Saturday 02-06-2012 06:18 PM
Live Updates: Protests erupt across Egypt after surprise Mubarak ruling

Protesters demonstrate after a court sentenced deposed president Hosni Mubarak to life in prison at Tahrir Square in Cairo June 2, 2012. Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison on Saturday for ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising that swept him from power last year - REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

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6:00 Starting in Tahrir square, thousands have gathered chanting against the ruling military council, Egypt's ousted president and former regime member Ahmed Shafiq, who is running for presidency.

Ahmed Aggour, 24, who was protesting outside the Mubarak trial and has now joined Tahrir, explains why people have flocked to the streets:

"Everyone wants a real revolution, they feel like it really hasn't happened -especially with the likelihood that Mubarak will appeal his life sentence. We are chanting against Shafiq as we see him as the second Mubarak - everyone here has made the connection. We don't want him has president - which is why people have torn down his huge billboard overlooking 6 October bridge and are burning it here on Tahrir. In addition we are protesting against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), it was clearly their decision to let Gamal, Alaa and Adly's police officers off, the military generals tell the judges what to do."

5:45 After a brief break, we're back again with live updates from the Egypt-wide protests against the Mubarak trial ruling. To recap what happened earlier today check out our live updates from the morning here.

Thousands of demonstrators headed to Cairo's Tahrir Square, the focal point of the 2011 uprising, to protest Saturday's verdict against deposed president Hosni Mubarak and his associates. Demonstrations erupted across the country as soon as the trial finished, with marches and protests also occurring in the coastal governorates of Suez and Alexandria.

The ruling unexpectedly saw Mubarak and ex-interior minister Habib El-Adly get life sentences after being charged with participating in the crime of killing of protesters during last year's January 25 Revolution.

The rest of the defendants, Mubarak's sons Alaa and Gamal as well as six of El-Adly's police chiefs, were found not guilty. All corruption charges leveled against Egypt's ousted president, his sons and business tycoon Hussein Salem were also dropped because, according to the court, they were committed more than 10 years ago.

Protesters believe a harsher punishment should have been imposed on all defendants. Many groups have announced its intention to join protests, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, the April 6 Youth Movement, the Revolution Youth Coalition and the presidential campaigns of eliminated candidates Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh as well as the "Ultras", hardcore football fans of Cairo's Ahly and Zamalek teams

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