Edited for brevity.
Several hundred people protesting the U.S. presence in Iraq split into pro- and anti-Egyptian government camps Sunday.
Riot police surrounded both sides as they massed in the capital's main downtown center. Anti-U.S. protests are not unusual here. But a growing and increasingly vocal movement openly opposes the Egyptian government and President Hosni Mubarak. Criticism once voiced only in the privacy of homes or in taxis is now shouted in public over megaphones. Yesterday's protest, falling on the second anniversary of the Iraq war, included members of the new Kefia (Enough) movement, as well as the Islamist-leaning Labor Party, the socialist party and human-rights groups. They shouted "Down with Mubarak and ... the dogs of Mubarak!" and "Down with Bush!"
"Freedom, freedom, where are you?" marchers chanted. "Mubarak is between us and our freedom!" They also shouted "Long live Saddam!" and "Resist, resist, oh Zarqawi!" -- referring to Iraq's deposed dictator and to Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq and the man behind many suicide bombings and hostage beheadings there.
Several Iraqi journalists visiting Cairo rolled their eyes at the pro-Zarqawi and pro-Saddam chants. "They shout to make Iraq bleed more," said one, Awadh Al-Taee. "I hope Zarqawi joins them in Egypt, and then they see how they like it." "It is so sad that they say they support Saddam and Zarqawi," said reporter Salam Jihad. "That means they support the terrorists. ... If they really want Iraq to be liberated, as they say, they should keep their hands off of Iraq. They are so hypocritical." |