You're reading: Egyptians gather in Cairo to mark uprising

CAIRO (AP) — Thousands of Egyptians are starting to gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square to mark the first anniversary of the start of the popular uprising that toppled longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak.

Volunteers were checking IDs and conducting searches of the thousands of protesters flocking to the downtown square on Wednesday.

There were no army troops or police in the square, birthplace of the 18-day, anti-Mubarak uprising.

Military generals took over from Mubarak when he stepped down on Feb. 11, 2011.

The ousted president is now on trial for his life on charges of complicity in the killing of hundreds of protesters during the uprising.

He and his two sons, Alaa and one-time heir apparent Gamal, are facing separate charges of corruption in the same case.