20110218
reuters

CAIRO (Reuters) - Dressed in black and gathered in a wealthy suburb of Cairo, thousands of Egyptians took to the streets, not to celebrate the downfall of Hosni Mubarak but to apologise for the way he was deposed after 30 years.

"Yes to Change, No to Humiliation," said one banner hoisted aloft by the crowd of 5,000 in the Mohandisseen district, a short distance from hundreds of thousands celebrating the fall of Egypt's strongman just a week ago.

The group chanted: "The people want to honour the president," playing on the words of a protesters' chant which called on him to quit.

They saw no contradiction in wanting to see Mubarak, 82, leave office but with dignity after three decades in office.

"We are Egyptians, and we have manners. I do not object to his departure but not that way," said banker Ahmed Naguib, 24.

The army, ordered onto the streets by Mubarak just days into the protests to restore calm when police lost control, surrounded the pro-Mubarak group to avoid any clashes. But there was no sign of hostility to the group.

"I object to the way he left. The revolution had goals, but none of these goals was to humiliate anyone. Insulting Mubarak is an insult to Egypt," said housewife Sahar Ragab.

The former leader is sick and holed up in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.