Egyptian presidential hopefuls joined the public on Sunday in prayers for the annual Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) celebrations.
Former Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa headed to Suez; Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, a dissident Muslim Brotherhood member, attended prayers at a Sharm el-Sheikh resort; and former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Mohamed ElBaradei went to a mosque next to his home on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road.
Also, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq headed to Thawra mosque in Heliopolis; Islamist preacher Hazem Abu Ismail led prayers in Shubra; and Islamic thinker Mohamed Selim al-Awa prayed and gave a speech in Nasr City.
Following prayers, Moussa told attendees that he supports Solidarity and Social Justice Minister Gouda Abdel Khaleq's belief that the absence of a clear social justice strategy is weakening 25 January revolution. He stressed Egypt's need to determine a social and economic identity through the new constitution to be drafted after the completion of parliamentary elections.
Abu Ismail delivered an Eid sermon attended by nearly 10,000 people. He urged citizens to attend the 18 November demonstrations that have been called for by a number of political groups to protest the supra-constitutional principles document currently being championed by Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmy and demand 30 April 2011 as a deadline for holding the presidential election. The supra-constitutional principles document would impose guidelines on the writing of the new constitution.
Many of Abu Ismail's Salafi followers marched in support of him after his sermon.
Awa, joined by 3000 people, delivered a brief speech urging Egyptians to unite and work toward stability.
Abouel Fotouh attended prayers at one of the mosques where former President Hosni Mubarak used to commemorate Eid.
Shafiq was careful not to pray at the front lines of the congregation. He shook hands with the imam and some citizens took photos with him.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
