Tens of thousands packed Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Friday, with Islamist groups dominating the protest meant to show unity during a fragile transition from ousted president Hosni Mubarak’s regime. The rally was officially to start after the Muslim noon prayer but thousands had already made their way to the square overnight and by morning chants calling for an “Islamic state” rang across Tahrir. The powerful Muslim Brotherhood, in coordination with other fundamentalist Muslim groups, had called for the demonstration, sparking fears of tensions with secular groups already camped out in Tahrir Square since July 8. But after two days of meetings, secular and Islamist groups agreed to put their differences aside and focus on the common goals in order to save the revolution that toppled Mubarak in February, organisers said. On the podiums set up around the square, speakers called for unity and partnership, but inside crowds who had gathered in sweltering heat called for Egypt to “implement God’s law.”
