Egyptian authorities ban further protests

CAIRO, Jan. 26, 2011 (Xinhua) --

Egyptian authorities said Wednesday that further protests will be banned after Tuesday's mass gatherings in Cairo and some other places in Egypt.

A statement of the Interior Ministry said anyone who organizes protests would be subject to legal questioning.

The statement called on people to discard attempts to exploit their problems and to bear in mind the dangers of stirring the sentiments of ordinary people to open doors for havoc and chaos.

"Police separated the crowds after we learnt that the protesters planned to escalate matters and invite other groups," the ministry's statement said.

The statement also denied that massive protests took place in other places, saying the intensive presence was in Tahrir Square in central Cairo where no more than 10,000 protesters amassed and by the evening they were reduced to half.

Thousands of Egyptian protesters hit the streets on Tuesday in an unprecedented demonstration against the government, causing downtown Cairo to become standstill and gaining momentum all over the country rapidly. The protests in downtown Cairo were dispersed by police at 1:00 am Wednesday (2300 GMT Tuesday), with the use of tear gas and water cannons as protesters refused to leave.

A number of activists called for a second day of protests, but none has erupted yet.

Cairo demonstrators call for Mubarak stepping down among other conditions

CAIRO, Jan. 25, 2011 (Xinhua) --

Egyptian demonstrators gathering in central Cairo Tuesday evening are circulating a pamphlet that raises four demands to the government including the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

According to Xinhua reporters there, the four demands including the stepping down of Mubarak, the resignation of the cabinet led by Prime Minister Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Nazef, dissolving the People's Assembly and rescheduling elections, and establishing a new government supported by the people.

Some Egyptian opposition parties, including the Wafd Party, the Ghad Party and the Democratic Front Party, also came up with conditions after an emergency meeting Tuesday evening to the regime for not supporting the massive demonstration.

Their demands include both Mubarak and his son Gamal should not run for the president election scheduled later this year, dissolving the People's Assembly, annulling the Emergency Law and releasing political prisoners.

Protesters continued to demonstrate after the nightfall in the Tahrir Square and vowed to carry on until dawn.

Tens of thousands of Egyptian protesters launched an unprecedented demonstration on Tuesday against corruption, poverty, unemployment and other social grievance, calling for an end of Mubarak's 30-year ruling.

The demonstration, the largest one since Mubarak took office in 1981, started peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, but turned to violence several hours later.

Riot police clashed with demonstrators, firing tear gas and using water cannons to disperse crowds in central Cairo, while protestors threw stones at the police and attacked the water cannon truck in return.

A police officer died after being beaten by protesters in the violence in Cairo. while two protesters died in the eastern port city of Suez in clashes with police.

Editor: yan

Nationwide protests jolt Egypt, 3 killed

CAIRO, Jan. 26, 2011 (Xinhua) --

Tens of thousands of Egyptians took to the streets across the country on Tuesday in the largest waves of protests the Arab nation has seen in decades.

Till early Wednesday, violent clashes between police and demonstrators had killed one police officer in Cairo and two protesters in the port city of Suez. Security sources said over 50 policemen had been wounded. The number of injured protesters is yet to know.

Tuesday marked Egypt's National Police Day, yet demonstrators dubbed it a "Day of Anger" and followed an online call for massive protests against corruption, poverty, unemployment and other social and political grievances.

Among the demands of the protesters were an end to President Hosni Mubarak's rule, a change of the country's governing system and a solution to the country's rampant poverty and corruption.

The Egyptian Interior Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday night that it had decided to allow protesters to exercise their freedom of expression and commit security forces to safeguarding rather than confronting the gatherings.

But some protesters, "particularly a large number of those affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood... began to riot, damage public property and throw stones at police forces," it added.

In downtown Cairo, security forces dispersed thousands of protesters, mostly young people, with tear gas on early Wednesday at Tahrir Square, where demonstrators had gathered since midday Tuesday, shouting anti-government slogans.

The demonstration started peacefully, but turned sour hours later. Riot police resorted to tear gas and water cannons, while protestors threw stones and attacked a water cannon truck in return.

Xinhua reporters at the scene saw some protesters wounded with blood shedding on their heads and some others beaten by police officers with sticks. Ambulances carried some people to hospitals.

Meanwhile, protests were also reported in other Egyptian cities, including the country's second largest city of Alexandria, the port cities of Suez and Ismailiya and the southern cities of Aswan and Assiut. Witnessed said the turnout of Alexandria's demonstrations exceeded 20,000.

The latest waves of protests were the largest since Mubarak took office in 1981. It came in the wake of several self-immolation cases apparently inspired by the recent dramatic developments in Tunisia, where the self-immolation of a fruit vendor triggered massive protests that eventually led to dramatic political changes.

The flare-up of violence also cast a thick cloud over the presidential election slated for later this year. Opposition parties demanded that both Mubarak and his son Gamal should not join the race.

Editor: Lu Hui

Egyptian police disperse protesters in downtown Cairo

CAIRO, Jan. 26, 2011 (Xinhua) --

Egyptian security forces dispersed thousands of protesters in downtown Cairo with tear gas early Wednesday after three died and dozens were wounded in nationwide protests.

The protesters, mostly young people, began to walk to the Tahrir Square in central Cairo around midday Tuesday, shouting anti-government slogans, amid a heavy riot police presence.

A riot policeman died from head injuries in Cairo and two protesters in Suez were also killed in clashes between police and protesters, according to security sources.

More than 50 policemen were injured, according to the sources.

Tuesday's protests also broke out in Alexandria and some other provinces of the country.

Some protesters said they took to the streets because of the government corruption, poverty and unemployment.

In a leaflet, protesters demanded stepping down of President Hosni Mubarak, resignation of the cabinet and re-election of the parliament.

Some Egyptian opposition parties, including the Wafd Party, also came up with conditions after an emergency meeting Tuesday evening to the regime for not supporting the massive demonstration.

The opposition demanded that both Mubarak and his son Gamal should not run for the presidential election scheduled later this year, and called for dissolution of the People's Assembly, end of the Emergency Law and release of political prisoners.

Egypt has recently seen several self-immolation cases, including one death, which was apparently inspired by the unrest in Tunisia which led to the change of its political arena.

Editor: Xiong Tong

Egyptians launch massive anti-regime demonstration, clash with police

CAIRO, Jan. 25, 2011 (Xinhua) --

 Thousands of Egyptian protesters hit the streets Tuesday in an unprecedented demonstration against President Hosni Mubarak and the government, clashing with police and bringing downtown Cairo to standstill.

Security sources said over 10,000 people took part in Tuesday's rally in Cairo described by on-line organizers as the "Day of Anger" to protest against corruption, poverty, unemployment and other social and political grievances.

Major streets in downtown Cairo saw a heavy presence of police and security forces on Tuesday, the holiday for the country's National Police Day.

Demonstrators broke down security forces cordons to march to the Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, holding Egyptian flag and shouting anti-regime slogans calling for change and the ouster of President Mubarak.

"We do not want Mubarak," shouted protesters, in reference to the president who has been in power for three decades. Other protesters chanted "revolution, revolution."

Protesters confront police during an anti-government demonstration in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 25, 2011. Thousands of Egyptian protesters hit the streets Tuesday in an unprecedented demonstration against President Hosni Mubarak and the government, causing downtown Cairo to become standstill and gaining momentum all over the country rapidly. (Xinhua/Ahmad Karem)

The demonstration, the largest one since Mubarak took office in 1981, started peacefully, but turned to violence several hours later.

Riot police clashed with demonstrators, firing tear gas and using water cannons to disperse crowds in central Cairo, while protestors threw stones at the police and attacked the water cannon truck in return, to what local reporters there described as a war zone.

The clash led to injuries and Xinhua reporters witnessed some protesters were wounded with blood shedding on their heads. Many others were wounded by the tear gas or by sticks of the security men, and were carried to nearby hospitals by ambulances.

By nightfall, protesters continued to demonstrate in the Tahrir Square and vowed to carry on until dawn.

Tuesday's protests in Egypt came after several self-immolation cases across the country, apparently inspired by the recent unrest in Tunisia which forced the change of its political arena.

"Long live a free Tunisia," and "Tunisia is not better than Egypt" are chanted by some protesters.

About 93,000 people said on a Facebook page they would participate in the peaceful march on Tuesday.

The on-line activists had a number of demands including the resignation of Interior Minster Habib al-Adly who is being held accountable for human rights violations, the end of the decades- old emergency law, as well as rise of the minimum wage and rescheduling the People's Assembly elections to which they called as a fraud.

Batlimos, a 26-year-old clerk of a technology marketing company in Cairo, joined the demonstration at Tahrir Square, holding a piece of paper that read "Leave and let us live" he wrote in red ink.

He said he was unsatisfied with the corrupt government and lack of transparency.

"Though official figures showed the unemployment rate stood at around 9 percent, the actual rate should definitely be much higher, " he added.

In Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city, about 20,000 people launched protests, carrying slogans such as "change, freedom and social justice" and "anti-corruption and hailing change."

Moreover, around 300 protestors hit the streets south of Rafah, chanting against the emergency law and calling for the release of the detainees, according to a Xinhua reporter there.

Reports circulate that over 3,000 in the Suez Governorate were chanting for two hours.

Egypt's Interior Ministry has appealed to protestors not to be deceived by false slogans, the official MENA news agency reported.

MENA quoted a security source as saying that among the instigators of the rally are the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, Kifaya and April 6 movements and the National Association for Change, a political campaign set up by former IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei.

Interior Minister Habib al-Adly said in an interview published on Tuesday for state newspaper Al Ahram that the security apparatus will secure and protect the protestors if these demonstrations are aimed only at expressing their opinion.

However, he added "the security agency is capable of deterring any attempt to undermine the citizens and will not be lenient towards any attempt to damage property or threaten security."

Egyptian authorities have issued warnings that the police will deal firmly and decisively with those who take part in unauthorized protests.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for restraint in Egypt, and expressed confidence to Mubarak's government, an important ally of U.S. in the Middle East.

"We support the fundamental rights of expression and assembly for all people, and we urge that all parties exercise restraint and refrain from violence," Clinton told reporters.

"But our impression is that the Egyptian government is stable, and is looking for ways to respond to the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people," she added.

Egyptian protesters launch anti-government march in "Day of Anger"

CAIRO, Jan. 25, 2011 (Xinhua) --

Thousands of Egyptian protesters hit the streets Tuesday in an unprecedented demonstration against the government, causing downtown Cairo to become standstill and gaining momentum all over the country rapidly.

There was no official figure of the protesters, but about 93, 000 people said on a Facebook page they would participate in a peaceful march on Tuesday described as the "Day of Anger" against torture, corruption, poverty and unemployment.

Marchers in Cairo have reached the Egyptian Foreign Ministry chanting anti-government slogans, going through the path in front of the ruling National Democratic Party headquarter.

"We do not want Mubarak," shouted protesters in Cairo, in reference to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who has been in power for three decades. Other protesters chanted "Revolution, Revolution."

According to eyewitnesses, more than 1,000 protesters marched from Ramsis Square to Tahrir Square, breaking down central security forces cordons.

"More than 10,000 protesters are now in Gamet el Dawel street in Cairo," tweeted Ayman Nour, head of the opposition Ghad Party.

Moreover, around 300 protestors hit the streets in south of Rafah, chanting against the emergency law and calling for the release of the detainees, according to Xinhua reporter there.

Reports circulate that over 3,000 in the Suez governorates are chanting for two hours.

The online activists had a number of demands including the resignation of Interior Minster Habib al-Adly who is being held accountable for human rights violations, the end of the decades- old emergency law, as well as increase of the minimum wage and rescheduling the People's Assembly elections to which they call is a fraud.

Habib al-Adly said in an interview published on Tuesday for state newspaper Al Ahram that the security apparatus will secure and protect the protestors if these demonstrations are aimed only at expressing their opinion.

However, he added "the security agency is capable of deterring any attempt to undermine the citizens and will not be lenient towards any attempt to damage property or threaten security."

Amnesty International urged the Egyptian authorities not to crackdown on planned nationwide demonstrations.

No clashes has been reported so far. Egyptian authorities have issued warnings that the police will deal firmly and decisively with those who take part in unauthorized protests.

Editor: Fang Yang