Cairo: Millions of exuberant Egyptians on Friday held a "Victory March" to celebrate the end of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule and an influential preacher called on the army to form a new government and free political prisoners.
Shaikh Yousuf Al Qaradawi, a Qatar-based preacher and one of the first to back the revolution, said fear had been lifted from Egyptians by the 18-day revolution and he was confident the Higher Military Council would not betray the nation.
In depth: Unrest in the Middle East
"I call on the Egyptian army to liberate us from the government that Mubarak formed," Al Qaradawi told the faithful at noon prayers in Tahrir Square, after which the huge crowd cheered and waved national flags in jubilation.
The spiritual leader urged worshippers in the world's most populous Arab nation to be patient with the new military rulers.
Far from normal
Life in Egypt is still far from normal a week after the popular uprising focused on Cairo's Tahrir Square, with tanks on the streets, banks closed, workers on strike, schools shut and protests against the government.
"We do not want to see these faces linked to corruption and violence and camels, killing people," said Al Qaradawi, referring to an assault on pro-democracy protesters in the last days of the revolt when pro-Mubarak thugs charged on horses and camels.
Egypt's official state news agency, which before Mubarak's downfall, had largely ignored or played down protests, yesterday said that more than two million people were in Tahrir Square, which became the nerve-centre for anti-Mubarak protest.
Hundreds of thousands joined rallies across Egypt, which are also a memorial to the 365 people who died in the uprising, and many said they would guard the newly-won prospect of democracy. The Tahrir sermon was broadcast to the nation on television.
There were tanks and armoured vehicles at the entrances to the sprawling square which was packed tightly with marchers, bowing simultaneously in prayer alongside red-bereted military police and other uniformed soldiers guarding the area.
Serious message
"This is a serious message to the military," said Mohammad Al Said, 28, who travelled to Cairo from Port Said, gesturing to the colourful sea of people from all walks of life around him.
"After today, it will be more than obvious to them that if they don't protect the revolution and respond to the people's demands, the next time people go down to Tahrir won't be to celebrate victory, but they will bring their blankets with them like before," Al Said told Reuters.
Al Qaradawi said the revolution had been a triumph over sectarianism.
Cursed strife
"Here in Tahrir the Christian and Muslim stood side by side. This cursed strife is no more," he said, adding: "This revolution has to have been victorious over the pharaoh. When Egypt believes, it challenges the pharaoh."
