Tahrir calm before planned demonstrations

Calm prevailed in Tahrir Square Tuesday, where a number of youths called for a million man demonstration to apply the political isolation law on presidential election candidate Ahmed Shafiq, who was a prime minister under former president Hosni Mubarak. The youths also called for the investigation into cases of soldiers said to have voted in the elections, although they are not eligible to do so. This came after the announcement of the first round results, which confirmed that Ahmed Shafiq and the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi will run in the second round. The unsuccessful candidate Khaled Ali joined the demonstrators, telling them: “The elections are rigged and people are demanding the overthrow of this regime", stressing his indifference for both Morsi and Shafiq. Khaled Ali led thousands of protesters. Egypt's “Ultras” football fans also participated in the demonstration using fireworks, while a large number of activists announced an open sit-in until the political isolation law was applied.  Protesters closed Tahrir Square from the direction of Qasr al-Ayni street, putting barricades in front of cars, and asking motorists to turn away. The political activist Nawara Negm announced that she is to join the Tahrir Square demonstration in protest against the first round election results, saying she will not participate in the second round.