Demonstrators return to Cairo

CAIRO, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of people gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square Friday to celebrate the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak, officials said.

Demonstrators waved flags and sang and urged the government to implement democratic reforms, the BBC reported.

"I call on the Egyptian army to liberate us from the government that Mubarak formed," said Egyptian Sheik Yousef al-Qaradawi.

Al-Qaradawi called for the release of all political prisoners.

"This is a serious message to the military," said Mohamed el-Said, a protester who traveled from Port Said to be at Friday's event. "After today, it will be more than obvious to them that if they don't protect the revolution and respond to the people's demands, the next time people go down to Tahrir won't be to celebrate victory, but they will bring their blankets with them like before."

Opposition leaders also called for an investigation into the deaths of protesters during the demonstrations that led to Mubarak's recent resignation.

The Egyptian government said this week at least 365 people died in the uprising that led to the toppling of the Mubarak regime.