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Jan. 25, in Egypt:

"DAY OF REVOLUTION"

Yesterday's Guardian (UK) reported the following:

Egypt's authoritarian government is bracing itself for one of the biggest opposition demonstrations in recent years tomorrow, as thousands of protesters prepare to take to the streets demanding political reform...

An unlikely alliance of youth activists, political Islamists, industrial workers and hardcore football fans have pledged to join a nationwide "Day of Revolution (against torture, corruption, poverty and unemployment)" on a national holiday to celebrate the achievements of the police force...

Tomorrow's events were initiated by two dissident movements, both based online. One is dedicated to the memory of Khaled Said, an Alexandrian man beaten to death by police last year, while the other, "6 April", is a youth group named after the date of an uprising two years ago in the Nile delta town of El-Mahalla El-Kubra, in which three people were killed by police...

Today's reality on the Egyptian streets

At noon (local time/8pm KST) Reuters reported:

Hundreds of anti-government protesters are marching in the Egyptian capital chanting against President Hosni Mubarak and calling for an end to poverty. The demonstrators are singing the national anthem, carrying banners denouncing Mubarak and saying Egyptian elections are fraudulent. The protesters are heavily outnumbered by back-clad riot police, as security forces deployed in a massive operation across Cairo ahead of the first Tunisia-inspired rally in Egypt. No violence was immediately reported.

About one hour later J. Shenker, reporting for The Guardian, wrote the following:

Remarkable scenes in Cairo as thousands and thousands are marching with apparent freedom on the streets after years of seeing every anti-government protest immediately shut down by police. Riot troops are following close behind but seem uncertain as to what to do - three major demonstrations are now ongoing in different parts of the Egyptian capital, all of whom have broken through police cordons, but there seems to be little coordination between protest leaders about what to do next.
I'm downtown outside the offices of the government newspapers where hundreds are chanting 'Mubarak, your plane is waiting' and appealing for passers-by to join them, many of whom are taking up the offer.
Ahmed Ashraf, a 26 year old bank analyst, told me this was his first protest, and that he had been inspired by events in Tunisia. "We are the ones controlling the streets today, not the regime," he said. "I feel so free - things can't stay the same after this."

A half hour later Al-Masry al-Youm (Egypt intependend news organisation) reported the following:

After a short period of non-interference, Egyptian police have started to crack down on several protests in downtown Cairo.
On the Kasr al-Aini street, security forces cordoned off around 400 activists and started to beat those who tried to break in siege.
To the north, eyewitnesses said that the police have beaten several demonstrators who gathered in front of Cairo’s judicial complex.

And once again J. Shenker, just few minutes later:

Reports spreading of protesters attacking the council of ministers building downtown, while several thousands are marching towards Mubarak's presidential palace in Heliopolis. In Dar El Salaam, a densely-populated neighbourhood in southern Cairo, demonstrators claim they have taken over the police station...

Related (updated) reports:
☞ Egypt protesters clash with police (al-Jazeera)
☞ Live updates: Opposition groups protest... (al-Ahram)

 

PS: Two days ago an activist, involved in the preparation of today's "Revolution Day" vowed: ""It will be the start of something big!!"