Youth Leaders Warn Egypt Military: Protests Could Be Resumed

Egyptian anti government protesters react shortly after the anouncement of the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak from his post at Tahrir square, in Cairo, Egypt, 11 February 2011. EPA/BGNES

Leaders of Egypt's youth movement spearheading the revolution that brought down Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have warned the military assuming control of the control that street protests could be restarted is no real change is made.

After Mubarak resigned Friday night following 18 days of massive civil unrest and street protests, Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces took over the country in order to preside over its much anticipated democratization transition.

Mubarak was brought down by a "social network revolution" as the April 6th Youth Movement used Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to start protests against the regime, which grew to attract massive popular support.

However, youth leaders have declared that the massive street protests could be restarted if the military government does not achieve proper progress to address the grievances of the people.

Abdel-Rahman Samir, one of the youth organizers of the protests that forced Mubarak to resign, says the movement will now open negotiations with the military over democratic reform but says protests will continue to ensure change is carried out.

"We still don't have any guarantees yet — if we end the whole situation now it's like we haven't done anything. So we need to keep sitting in Tahrir (Square) until we get all our demands," he said cited by international agencies.

Another leader of the youth movement in Egypt, Google executive Wael Ghonim, who helped trigger the revolution in Egypt, via social media, warned that an atmosphere of distrust prevails in the country.

"There should be direct communication between the leaders of youth movements, the Wise Men committee and the Military Council," he said.

The young activist underlined the importance of cracking down on all the corrupt people who have seized the country's fortunes along the past 30 years.

"I had some doubts that the reforms were illusive, but it is now clear that they are taken seriously. I have big confidence that the gains we have gathered so far would not be wasted and there won't be any more dirty tricks. In case of manipulation, protests will return again," Ghonim told Al Arabiya.

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