Freedom falls from their lips

They came in the hundreds of thousands to chant and sing about a new Egypt, one without an authoritarian presence, who in their minds is as good as gone.

An estimated 200,000 people, at times crushed shoulder-to-shoulder, filled Tahrir Square, whose name means liberation. And that is exactly how they feel.

The previous seven days of protest were days of rage. Yesterday was for celebration.

“This is an historic day. The regime is still there, but already we are living as if everything is different,” said Nour Nada, a university economics professor.

As far as these Egyptians are concerned, there is no going back. All week, they shed their fear of Egypt’s police state and held massive protests against a 30-year rule.

They have tasted freedom and they are determined to keep it. They even call Mubarak names, using words like donkey and pig.

“He may try to hold on for a while longer, but we already know we won by being here,” said Moustafa El Sheikh, a blind 60-year-old holding his wife’s arm.

With files from the canadian press