But the struggle for power has heated up with the approach of next month's presidential vote, in which Islamists see their chance to capture Egypt's highest post. In response, one of the most powerful members of Mubarak's inner circle - former intelligence chief and vice president Omar Suleiman - has entered the race, proclaiming he wants to prevent Islamist rule.
Friday's rally, dubbed "Protecting the Revolution," was organized by the Muslim Brotherhood and the ultraconservative Salafi movement. It further underlined the difficult situation of Egypt's liberals and leftists. Most of them also reject Suleiman, seeing him as a return of the Mubarak regime. But they accuse the Islamists of trying to monopolize power and of opportunism, cozying up to the ruling generals and only talking of revolution when it suits their interests. Most stayed away from Friday's protest.
The crowd in Tahrir Square - the epicenter of the 18 days of protests last year that led to Mubarak's ouster - was overwhelmingly Islamist. A large banner of a prominent Salafi candidate for president, Hazem Abu Ismail, hung over the crowd, where many wore T-shirts with his image. Many in crowd had the beards of Muslim conservatives, and vendors sold black banners with the Islamic profession of faith, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet."
"If Omar Suleiman became a president, it will turn to a pool of blood, and people will stay in the square for 10 years," said protester Ahmed Murad in front of banners depicting Suleiman as the candidate of the "Zionists."
Suleiman was Mubarak's point man on ties with Israel and many see him as symbolic of a friendly Mubarak-era relationship with the Jewish state.
"We didn't oust Mubarak to get another one," another protester, Adel Suleiman, said while a crowd nearby carried a black coffin on which protesters wrote, "the people want to oust the remnants," referring to former regime figures.
Chants of "the people want to bring down the field marshal" rang across the square, referring to the head of the ruling military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi. Many held banners with pictures of Suleiman and another Mubarak-era presidential candidate, Ahmed Shafiq, with their faces crossed out.
