Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in several parts of Egypt yesterday, facing a massive police presence, as they demanded political and economic reform in a protest inspired by Tunisia’s uprising.
In Cairo alone, a security official said 20,000 to 30,000 police had been mobilized in the city center as protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court with large signs that read “Tunisia is the solution.”
At the steps of the Lawyers’ Syndicate, dozens of people stood waving the national flag and calling for the end of Eygptian President Hosni Mubarak’s rule. A security official said the area housing the interior ministry had been locked down.
Chanting “Down with Mubarak,” demonstrators broke through several police cordons and began marching towards Cairo’s central Tahrir Square and down the Corniche along the Nile River.
“Gamal, tell your father Egyptians hate you,” they shouted, referring to Mubarak’s son, who many Egyptians believe is being groomed for office after his 82-year-old father steps down.
Hundreds gathered in the Delta city of Mansura, waving Egyptian flags and demanding more rights. In the port city of Ismailiya, hundreds chanted anti-government slogans and warned other Arab leaders they would meet the same fate as former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted by a popular uprising after 23 years in power.
“Zine El Abidine, who is coming next,” they shouted.
In the north Sinai town of Al-Mahdia, near the Israeli border, hundreds demanded the release of political prisoners and an end to police heavy-handedness.
The call protests was first launched by pro-democracy youth group the April 6 movement, to coincide with a national holiday to celebrate Police Day. Online activists had called for a “Day of Wrath” against the government.
Among demands are the ouster of Egyptian Interior Minster Habib al-Adly, whose police and security forces have been accused of heavy-handedness; the lifting of a decades-old emergency law and a rise in minimum wages.
Facebook groups and political activists had called for demonstrators to start gathering at noon at several points in central Cairo.
“I will go to the streets on the 25th of January because this country is my country and I vow an oath that I am ready and willing to die for its sake,” wrote Mohamed M on a Facebook group that called for protests and which has 87,000 supporters.
“In my book, if you get a tenth of the 80,000 people or so who support the initiative online, it will be a success,” wrote Issandr El Amrani on his blog arabist.net.
The Interior Ministry warned that it would deal “firmly” with all those who behave illegally.
“The security is able to deal with any threat to the safety of its people, and will not take lightly any damage to property or breaches of the law,” al-Adly said in an interview with the state-owned Al-Ahram daily.
Earlier, he had issued orders to “arrest any persons expressing their views illegally,” but also said he welcome stationary protests for a limited period.
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