Thousands in Egypt protest Hosni Mubarak's rule, emboldened by Tunisian revolt

AP :A demonstrator defaces a poster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Alexandria, Egypt, Tuesday Jan. 25, 2011. Thousands of protesters marched in Alexandria Tuesday in what was dubbed a "Day of Rage" against Mubarak and lack of political freedoms under his rule.

Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo and at least four other major cities Tuesday, demanding an end to the 30-year rule by President Hosni Mubarak less than two weeks after a popular uprising toppled Tunisia’s dictator and sent shockwaves through the Arab world.

Egyptian state media reported that a police officer died, and there were unconfirmed reports in other news media that two demonstrators were killed during the biggest anti-government protests in decades.

“We want our rights,” demonstrators chanted. They also demanded an end to corruption, rampant unemployment and political repression. The government deployed throngs of black-clad police in anti-riot gear across Egypt, and used teargas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators in Cairo.

It also interrupted Web access to independent news sites and Twitter and jammed cell phone signals in downtown Cairo. It was a surprising move by Mubarak — who generally has allowed free speech and occasional protests — and may reflect fear that the unrest could mushroom. Demonstrations also took place in Alexandria on the northern coast, Mahalla in the Nile Delta, Aswan in the south and Suez in the east.

Dozens were injured or arrested, but official figures weren’t immediately available.

“This is only the beginning. It’s the first step towards change,” said Ahmed Salah, 45, an activist who helped organize the protests.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters the United States is “very closely” monitoring the demonstrations around Egypt and supports “the fundamental right of expression and assembly for all people.” But she added the Egyptian government is “stable” and looking for ways to respond to “the legitimate needs and interests of the Egyptian people.”

What organizers dubbed a “day of revolt” was inspired in part by a Facebook page, “We Are All Khaled Said,” named for a 28-year-old Egyptian who police beat to death in the streets of the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria last summer. His story paralleled that of Mohamed Bouazizi, the young Tunisian fruit seller whose self-immolation after a confrontation with police catalyzed the Tunisian revolution.

Observers said the protests were the biggest in Egypt since the “bread riots” of the 1970s, when hundreds of thousands rioted to protest rising food prices.

(www.cleveland.com| AP)