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Egyptians to protest year of military rule

CAIRO, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Egypt's rulers have deployed tanks and soldiers ahead of rallies planned to protest the slow transition to democracy since Hosni Mubarak's ouster a year ago.

More than 120 labor groups and organizations have announced plans for nationwide strikes and a campaign of civil disobedience, Bikyamasr.com reported Thursday. The campaign is an attempt to quicken the transition from military to civilian rule, the news Web site reported. The military had promised to remain in power for six months, but Saturday marks one year of junta power.

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Salam Amr, a 27-year-old marketing assistant in Cairo, said he plans not to go to the office that day.

"I think we have had enough violence, enough death and the military is responsible, so I am going to join the protest and strike," he said.

Al-Azhar, a Sunni institution in Egypt, has labeled the planned strikes and civil disobedience "destructive" and "un-Islamic."

The ruling military council said in a statement it would patrol the country to "maintain the security ... of public, private and state buildings."

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