Clashes With Police Reported as Thousands Rally in Egypt

Anti-Mubarak Protests Gaining Momentum

In the wake of the Tunisian riots which ousted President Ben Ali, the question amongst many analysts is which of the myriad dictators in the region will be next. Though there has been some early indication of major movements against Yemeni President Ali Abullah Saleh, it seems the momentum right now is for the ouster of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak.

Indeed, much of Cairo was virtually shut down today as thousands of anti-Mubarak protesters defied warnings and took to the streets demanding the president’s ouster. Smaller protesters were reorted in a number of other Egyptian cities as well.

Reports so far say that at least two protesters and one Egyptian police officer have been killed in the fighting in Cairo, At least 60 people in Suez were also wounded by the use of tear gas.

Former IAEA Chief and major Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei said public protest was the only way to bring about change in the nation, adding that there is “no turning back.” He also said he believed that despite comments to the contrary Mubarak was “extremely nervous.”

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.