Clinton visits Tahrir Square in Cairo

US secretary of state strolls through the heart of the revolt that toppled Mubarak from power in Egypt, talking to pedestrians.

By REUTERS
Clinton 311 reuters (photo credit: Reuters)
Clinton 311 reuters
(photo credit: Reuters)
CAIRO - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton toured Tahrir Square in central Cairo on Wednesday, visiting the heart of the revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak from power in Egypt after 30 years and shook the Middle East.
She strolled around the square, flanked by security officials, and shook hands with pedestrians, including a woman in a Muslim headscarf and an older man who said: "Welcome to Tahrir Square."
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She replied: "Hi, how are you?"
Clinton arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, voicing support for Egypt's transition to democracy, but steering of an Egyptian debate over the timing and pace of elections.
"This moment in history belongs to you. This is your achievement," Clinton said in Cairo.
"You broke barriers and overcame obstacles to pursue the dream of democracy and the United States and President Obama and I will stand with you as you make this journey," she said during a news conference with Nabil Elaraby, the new foreign minister.
Click for full Jpost coverage of Egypt
Click for full Jpost coverage of Egypt
In the early days of the uprising, which began on Jan. 25, Tahrir square was the scene of violent clashes between demonstrators and police, who failed to quell the revolt with their until then effective heavy-handed tactics.
The police where then withdrawn from the streets and the army was deployed, surrounding the square with tanks but staying on the sidelines. When protesters were charged by Mubarak supporters on camels and horses on Feb. 2 the army looked on.
But despite the clashes, demonstrations became both protests and festive gatherings of hundreds of thousands. After Mubarak quit on Feb. 11, hundreds of thousands gathered to celebrate his departure.
Much of the anti-Mubarak graffiti has been cleaned away, traffic again flows through the square where several thoroughfares meet and cobbled pavements are being repaired after they were torn up to provide projectiles.