Egyptians Hold Largest Anti-Mubarak Protest Yet (Pro-democracy protests in Egypt)

ap ^ | Mon, Feb 21, 2005 | By Jonathan Wright

[Eurotwit]

CAIRO (Reuters) - Several hundred Egyptians protested in central Cairo on Monday in the largest street demonstration since the launch last year of a campaign against continued rule by the Mubarak family.

Liberals, leftists and Islamists chanted: "Enough, shame, have mercy" and "Down, down with (President) Hosni Mubarak (news - web sites)" in a public square outside the gates of Cairo University, as tens of thousands of mostly bemused commuters drove past.

Many of them carried yellow flags or stickers saying "Enough" -- the slogan of an informal movement dedicated to stopping Mubarak from obtaining a fifth six-year term in office or arranging for his son Gamal to take over the presidency.

Thousands of riot police armed with batons and shields surrounded the protesters and prevented some people from joining the crowd, but they did not attempt to disperse them.

The two and a half hour protest was the fourth in a series organized by two pro-democracy movements since December as Egypt goes into a year of presidential and parliamentary elections.

The demonstrators also called for the release of opposition leader Ayman Nour, who was stripped of his parliamentary immunity last month and detained for 45 days pending investigations into accusations that his party submitted forged documents when it applied for recognition last year.

Nour's Ghad (Tomorrow) Party has dismissed the accusations as having been fabricated for political reasons. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) said last week the United States has "very strong concerns" about the detention of Nour.

The disagreement with the United States over Nour played a part in the Egyptian government's decision on Saturday to postpone indefinitely a meeting of Group of Eight and Arab ministers on reform inside the Arab world, diplomats said.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Egypt said it was delaying the meeting, originally planned for Cairo on March 3, at the request of Arab governments which wanted it to be held after an Arab summit in Algiers in late March so that it could discuss the summit's decisions.

One diplomat said: "There's probably some truth in the official explanation but we suspect it was not the only reason."

"(Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed) Aboul Gheit's just back from the States and issues were raised there that make it quite difficult to hold the meeting in the way that was envisaged," added the diplomat, who asked not to be named.

Nour was one of the most vocal advocates of constitutional reform to allow for multi-candidate presidential elections.

Under the present system, parliament nominates a sole presidential candidate and Egyptians can then vote "yes" or "no" in a referendum. Given the ruling party's control of parliament and the traditional apathy of the Egyptian electorate, the system enables incumbents to stay in office indefinitely.

U.S. pressure has received a mixed reaction among Egyptian reformers, many of whom fear that any association with the United States will damage their cause by giving opponents of reform an opportunity to portray them as U.S. proxies.

At Monday's demonstration, organizer Abdel Halim Qandil said the democracy movement rejected any foreign intervention, especially from the United States, which has a poor image in Egypt because of its support for Israel.

"America has a particular vision of change in the region, on the model of what happened in Iraq (news - web sites). We have a different vision, against America and against the regime," he told reporters.

But Mazen Mostafa, a Ghad Party member who attended the protest, said that in private the Egyptian reformers wanted the Bush administration to push reform in the region.

"But I'm afraid they will repeat the same mistake and give advantages to regimes which are efficient (in guarding U.S. interests)," he added.

[Eurotwit]

But Mazen Mostafa, a Ghad Party member who attended the protest, said that in private the Egyptian reformers wanted the Bush administration to push reform in the region.

Interesting.

[mainepatsfan]

Same day as the Lebanese protests? Interesting.

[processing please hold]

Just what the hadies is happening in the ME. Are they all going insane. Why would they want freedom? What sort of wave is beginning to wash over them? Could Dubya have something to do with humans yearning to be free?

[OldFriend]

Proud to say......Bush's fault!!!

[OXENinFLA]

Mon Feb 21, 9:17 AM ET
An Egyptian protester shouts anti-government slogans outside Cairo University during a demonstration against an extension of the rule of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak (news - web sites) February 21, 2005. About 300 protestors called for an end to the rule of Mubarak, who has been Egypt's leader since 1981 and is widely expected to seek a fifth six-year term this year. REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby
Mon Feb 21, 9:21 AM ET
An Egyptian protester shouts anti-government slogans outside Cairo University during a demonstration against an extension of the rule of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak (news - web sites). February 21, 2005. About 300 protestors called for an end to the rule of Mubarak, who has been Egypt's leader since 1981 and is widely expected to seek a fifth six-year term this year. REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby

[OXENinFLA]

PING...........

[OXENinFLA]

Mon Feb 21,10:45 AM ET
An Egyptian woman participates in an anti-government protest staged at the front doors of the Cairo University. More than 500 people rallied in Cairo to protest against a new term in office for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (news - web sites) and against moves to enable his son Gamal to succeed him afterwards.(AFP/Cris Bouroncle)

[Bahbah]

Proud to say......Bush's fault!!!

I will second that.

[SandRat]

hmmmm,..... looks like the winds are carrying the seeds of freedom and democracy all over the middle-east and some have begun to tak root and grow. Wonder when the MSM, DEMOing DEMOCs, EURO weasels will admit GW was right?

[OldFriend]

Can't help thinking about the Iraqi's in Syria and Iran actually getting to vote in their election all the while the Syrian and Iranians cannot vote in their own elections.

What a powerful message we've sent to the world.

[M 91 u2 K]

Do these people want a true open democracy or they oppose Mubarak who oppresses Radical Muslims to an extent?