With peace and determination, Egyptians reshape their country

CAIRO - It was sparked on social-networking sites, and inspiredby a revolution in Tunisia. In 18 days, it grew into somethingastounding - a leaderless people's movement that at every turnoutsmarted a government with an almost unblemished 30-year record ofsuppressing dissent.

On Friday, pro-democracy demonstrators achieved through peacefuland determined protests what only a month ago had seemed impossible:They forced President Hosni Mubarak from office.

"Mubarak thought he was God," Ali Asam, 50, said as he stood justoutside Tahrir Square, named after the Arabic word for liberation."He killed the people, he beat the people, and we won."

In the end, images of riot police and pro-government thugsattacking and killing unarmed civilians are what broke Mubarak.Rather than force people off the streets through intimidation, theviolence simply galvanized more to join the revolt.

The government's efforts to control the message by cutting offthe Internet and phones, and by arresting scores of journalists andactivists, similarly backfired. Each day, ever greater numbers ofEgyptians turned out to the square to see for themselves themovement reshaping their country.

"They wanted to scare us," said Al-Marwa Mostafa Fahray, 33. Herface beamed as her two young daughters chanted with the crowd.

Fahray had never been politically involved before the past 18days. She had a comfortable life with her husband and children. Butshe watched the security forces detain hundreds of people and killhundreds more. She could no longer sit back, she said.

"I knew even if I had to die, or even if my kids had to die, Ishould come and fight with the people; you have to sacrifice to getsomething great," she said Friday night as impromptu dance partiesbroke out across the capital.

Despite the government's efforts to sow violence that could bepinned on the demonstrators, the vast majority did not take thebait.

In the first days of the protests, they were attacked with high-pressure water hoses, tear gas, birdshot, rubber bullets and liveammunition. Protesters responded with rocks, but also with pamphletsinstructing demonstrators to appeal to the police as fellowEgyptians.

When police withdrew from the streets and prisoners were releasedfrom their cells, Egyptians formed security committees to protecttheir neighborhoods. And when pro-Mubarak forces - many of themthought to be paid thugs and undercover police - attacked anti-government demonstrators, the protesters fought back but did notescalate the violence.

More than 300 people were killed over the past 18 days, with eachdeath giving the movement more momentum. In Tahrir Square, postersof the dead grace every corner. A curly haired girl named Sally, aman named Hassan, a boy named Mohammed.

"You will not be forgotten," many of the posters say.

On Friday night in Tahrir Square, the euphoria was intoxicatingand the joy unparalleled, as women and men made up songs tocelebrate their victory. The Qasr Al Nil Bridge that leads to thesquare was filled with people blowing horns and swaying to the musicblasting from cars.

"Hold your head up high. You are Egyptian," protesters chantedafter the announcement that Mubarak would step down.

People wept for the dead, but with pride and a sense ofnationalism that they said they had never had before. A circle ofmen and women chanted to the beat of a drum, "You can sleeppeacefully now," a reference to those who were killed.

"This is the holiest place on the planet," said Hassan Abu Baqr.The university professor came to the square from the hospital, wherehis granddaughter had been born just as Mubarak's ouster wasannounced. He calls her the "liberation baby."

He stood on the side of the road and congratulated each personwho passed him.

"Where else on the planet do you have a people that overthrowtheir dictator completely peacefully," he said.

Nearby, Marwan Saleh, 34, stood silent and absorbed every moment.By phone, he updated his Facebook status to tell people about thejoy, the flags waving in the air and the songs being sung about thelove of Egypt. For now the battle was over. The battle was won, hesaid.

"Today, finally, after all these days, after all the injustices,after all the killing. Now it's time to enjoy and celebrate," hesaid. "We will never forget the people who died for this."

fadell@washpost.com