In Pictures

In Pictures: Capturing the start of Egypt’s revolution

Country marks 10 years since the start of demonstrations that led to the downfall of long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Cairo facing a massive police presence to demand the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak on January 25, 2011. [Mohammed Abed/AFP]

By News Agencies

Inspired by the successful uprising in Tunisia, where demonstrators succeeded in bringing down the government, the 2011 revolution in Egypt started with marches, demonstrations and civil resistance on January 25.

People came on to the streets demanding the overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. They complained of poverty, unemployment, corruption and autocratic governance by a president who had ruled for 30 years.

After 18 days of demonstrations and violent clashes between security forces and protesters that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people and the injury of thousands more, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced on February 11 that Mubarak would resign as president, handing over power to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

The announcement sparked jubilation on the streets and sent a warning to autocrats across the Arab world and beyond.

An anti-government protester defaces an image of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak in Alexandria, on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, on January 25, 2011. [Reuters]

Riot police force protesters across the Kasr el-Nile Bridge as they attempt to get into Tahrir Square on January 28, 2011. Thousands of police were on the streets of the capital and hundreds of arrests were made in an attempt to quell anti-government demonstrations. [Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images]

An Egyptian anti-government activist kisses a riot police officer following clashes in Cairo on January 28, 2011. [Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Photo]

An Egyptian mother hugs her child as she watches thousands of Egyptian protesters gather in Tahrir Square on January 30, 2011. [Amr Nabil/AP Photo]

Egyptian soldiers, tanks and armoured personnel carriers are positioned between pro-government demonstrators and anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square on February 5, 2011. [Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Photo]

An anti-Mubarak protester sleeps on the wheels of a tank at Tahrir Square on February 6, 2011. [Emilio Morenatti/AP Photo]

CAIRO, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 10: Anti-government protesters raise their shoes after a speech by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek February 10, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. President Hosni Mubarak made a statement saying that he had given some powers to his vice president but would not resign or leave the country, leaving a crowd of anti-government protesters disappointed and furious after early reports he might step down. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) — Anti-government demonstrators raise their shoes in protest after a speech by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on February 10, 2011, in Cairo. Mubarak said he had given some powers to his vice president but would not resign or leave the country, leaving protesters disappointed and furious after early reports he might step down. [Chris Hondros/Getty Images]