Editing Gamal Abdel Nasser (section)

=== Revolution of 1952 ===
{{Main|Egyptian revolution of 1952}}
[[File:Nasser, Naguib and Hafez, 1952.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Three men seated and observing an event. The first man from the left is wearing a suit and fez, the second man is wearing a military uniform, and the third man is wearing military uniform with a cap. Behind them are three men standing, all dressed in military uniform. In the background is ab audience seated in bleachers|Leaders of Egypt following the ouster of King Farouk, November 1952. Seated, left to right: [[Sulayman Hafez]], [[Mohamed Naguib]] and Nasser]]
On 25 January 1952, at a time of growing [[fedayeen]] attacks on British forces occupying the Suez Canal Zone, some 7,000 British soldiers attacked the main police station in the Canal city [[Ismailia]]. In the ensuing battle, which lasted two hours, 50 Egyptian policeman were killed, sparking outrage across Egypt, and the [[Cairo Fire]] riots which left 76 people dead. Afterwards, Nasser published a simple six-point program in ''[[Rose al Yusuf (magazine)|Rose al-Yūsuf]]'' to dismantle [[feudalism]] and British influence in Egypt. In May, Nasser received word that Farouk knew the names of the Free Officers and intended to arrest them; he immediately entrusted Free Officer Zakaria Mohieddin with the task of planning the government takeover by army units loyal to the association.<ref name="Aburish39">{{Harvnb|Aburish|2004|pp=35–39}}</ref>

The Free Officers' intention was not to install themselves in government, but to re-establish a parliamentary democracy. Nasser did not believe that a low-ranking officer like himself (a [[lieutenant colonel]]) would be accepted by the Egyptian people, and so selected General Naguib to be his "boss" and lead the coup in name. The revolution they had long sought was launched on 22 July and was declared a success the next day. The Free Officers seized control of all government buildings, radio stations, and police stations, as well as army headquarters in Cairo. While many of the rebel officers were leading their units, Nasser donned civilian clothing to avoid detection by royalists and moved around Cairo monitoring the situation.<ref name="Aburish39" /> In a move to stave off foreign intervention two days before the revolution, Nasser had notified the American and British governments of his intentions, and both had agreed not to aid Farouk.<ref name="Aburish39" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Nutting|1972|pp=36–37}}</ref> Under pressure from the Americans, Nasser had agreed to exile the deposed king with an honorary ceremony.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stephens|1972|p=108}}</ref>

On 18 June 1953, the monarchy was abolished and the Republic of Egypt declared, with Naguib as its [[President of Egypt|first president]].<ref name="Aburish39" /> According to Aburish, after assuming power, Nasser and the Free Officers expected to become the "guardians of the people's interests" against the monarchy and the [[pasha]] class while leaving the day-to-day tasks of government to civilians.<ref name="Aburish41" /> They asked former prime minister Ali Maher to accept reappointment to his previous position, and to form an all-civilian cabinet.<ref name="Aburish41">{{Harvnb|Aburish|2004|p=41}}</ref> The Free Officers then governed as the [[Egyptian Revolutionary Command Council|Revolutionary Command Council]] (RCC) with Naguib as chairman and Nasser as vice-chairman.<ref>{{Harvnb|Nutting|1972|pp=38–39}}</ref> Relations between the RCC and Maher grew tense, however, as the latter viewed many of Nasser's schemes—agrarian reform, abolition of the monarchy, reorganization of political parties<ref name="Dekmejian24">{{Harvnb|Dekmejian|1971|p=24}}</ref>—as too radical, culminating in Maher's resignation on 7 September. Naguib assumed the additional role of prime minister, and Nasser that of deputy prime minister.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stephens|1972|p=114}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Aburish|2004|p=46}}</ref> In September, the [[Land reform in Egypt|Agrarian Reform Law]] was put into effect.<ref name="Dekmejian24" /> In Nasser's eyes, this law gave the RCC its own identity and transformed the coup into a revolution.<ref name="Aburish45" />

Preceding the reform law, in August 1952, communist-led riots broke out at textile factories in [[Kafr el-Dawwar]], leading to a clash with the army that left nine people dead. While most of the RCC insisted on executing the riot's two ringleaders, Nasser opposed this. Nonetheless, the sentences were carried out. The Muslim Brotherhood supported the RCC, and after Naguib's assumption of power, demanded four ministerial portfolios in the new cabinet. Nasser turned down their demands and instead hoped to co-opt the Brotherhood by giving two of its members, who were willing to serve officially as independents, minor ministerial posts.<ref name="Aburish45">{{Harvnb|Aburish|2004|p=45}}</ref>