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Cairo clashes continue through second day

Protests against the slow pace of change, two years after Egypt’s revolution, culminate in flames and tear gas.

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Crowds began to pack Tahrir Square and the surrounding streets on Friday to mark two years since the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak from power.
By Mosa'ab Elshamy
Published On 26 Jan 2013
Protesters scaled monuments during the demonstration in central Cairo, with many calling for the downfall of President Mohamed Morsi.
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Protesters used flares in the demonstration, which started on Friday, and highlighted popular discontent with a perceived lack of progress made towards democracy.
The demonstration united tens of thousands of Egyptians, marching together in the country(***)s capital on Friday.
The protests began peacefully, but a burning desire for change and a desire of security forces to maintain control of demonstrations meant that tension was certain to escalate.
As security forces attempted to block demonstrators from sensitive areas such as the interior ministry, stones were thrown from the crowd. On the second day, security forces were also seen throwing stones.
The "Guy Fawkes mask", popularised by graphic novel and movie "V for Vendetta" was made globally synonymous with protest due to its use by Anonymous and Occupy groups around the world.
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The clashes continued into Saturday night, with a violent fringe of football fans claiming "revenge" for the deaths of fellow "Ultras" in Port Said last year.
Many of the protesters involved in the most intense clashes wore masks to prevent them from being identified by security forces.
Riot police atop one of the buildings close to Ministry of Interior throw stones at protesters during ongoing clashes on Saturday.
Masked protesters from the newly established "Black Bloc" group storm one of the buildings near the lines of riot police. Parts of the building caught fire after Molotov cocktails were thrown at it.
Protesters also started fires in a bid to create a smokescreen to hinder security forces(***) use of tear gas.
A protester covers his face from the tear gas surrounding him as riot police attempted to disperse crowds clashing with them for the second day.
Protesters take control of a building adjacent to the Ministry of Interior on the second day of clashes and use it as a base from which to attack riot police.
A photojournalist carries a child who fainted on Saturday after being exposed to tear gas during clashes with police in Mohammed Mahmoud street, just off Tahrir Square.
Protesters and bystanders alike tried to find any sort of cover from the tear gas shot by police as the demonstration came to the end of its second day.

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