Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians gathered from morning and the numbers increased in the afternoon after Juma prayer. This was despite the absence of some of the political parties.

Protesters, gathered under a scorching sun, listened sermons at various mosques in the square, where they were exhorted not to forget the revolution.

Preachers and leaders called on the authorities to carry out reforms and fulfill the pledges made during the revolution. With the numbers growing in Tahrir Square for the Juma prayer, some of the mosque preachers in the area extended their sermons to well past one in the afternoon.

The demonstrators also called for the resignation of the Egyptian Premier Essam Sharaf; reformation of the electoral laws; abrogation of the emergency laws and a halt to military trials of civilians.

They also demanded the immediate release of all the people arrested during the Ahli-Kima Aswan match on Sept. 6 and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Egypt, quick action against those who corrupted Egypt’s political fabric and a total end to military rule.

Mazhar Shaeen, the imam of the Omar Makram Mosque, called for the immediate abrogation of the emergency laws while telling the present “decision-makers” to abide by the will of the people.

He warned the authorities, “Do not force us to take other measures. We are ready to set up gallows, and we are ready to try the corrupt in Tahrir Square.”

Abdul Hakeem Abdul Nasser, son of the former President Gamal Abdul Nasser, said: “The revolution will continue until all objectives are attained.”

Asked why there were no many banners in the crowd, Abdul Hakeem said, “The means of the Egyptians are limited. But the main thing is that they are here and holding on to the revolution. The people need to be kind and tolerant.”

He also called for stemming the flight of capital and urged the authorities to take action to bring the money transferred out of Egypt back.

Thirty-three ambulances were stationed in and around Tahrir Square, Garden City and in front of the Arab University of Cairo.

Some of the preachers denounced military trials of civilians. The military, which took charge after Mubarak’s ouster, has sentenced thousands of people to prison since February.

Protesters chanted slogans against the military ruler and current de facto head of state Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi after the sermon ended. Tantawi is set to take the witness stand Sunday when the trial of Mubarak resumes.

Ibrahim Ali, an agricultural engineer, said he had come to the capital from northern Egypt to attend the rally. “None of the revolution’s demands have been met,” he said. “There is still injustice in the country.”

The military, in a statement posted on its Facebook page, said it respected the right to protest peacefully, but warned it would respond to any violence by protesters with “the utmost severity and decisiveness.”

The Interior Ministry said it had withdrawn riot police stationed in Tahrir Square to allow the activists to protest unhindered, the official MENA news agency reported.

Hundreds of football fans also demonstrated in front of the ministry near Tahrir Square to protest against Tuesday night’s clashes with police in which nearly 80 people were injured and dozens of cars torched.

There were no police guards outside the ministry, leaving the protesters to scrawl anti-police slogans on its front gates.

Mohsen Rady, a senior Muslim Brotherhood member, told state television his movement, which is showing growing strains with the military, believed Egyptians were weary of protests. “People have grown bored of these demonstrations,” he said.
 
— With input from agencies