(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Mubarak's son, who is considered his successor, along with his family left the country amid the anti-government protests across Egypt which are the largest since Mubarak took power three decades ago.
The plane with Gamal Mubarak, his wife and daughter on board left for London Tuesday from an airport in western Cairo, the US-based Arabic website, Akhbar al-Arab reported on Wednesday.
The Egyptian blood baptized “day of rage”, inspired by recent uprising in Tunisia has transformed from just a call by opposition non-partisan website to protest movement that Egypt hadn’t witnessed many years ago.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Cairo and major cities demanding an end to the nearly 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak at a time it seemed that the protests are open to the potential of escalation. Protesters urged a second day of street demonstrations on Wednesday to maintain the momentum.
“The people want the ouster of the regime”, “Mubarak get lost”, “Bread, liberty, dignity” and “We will follow Tunisia” were the chanting slogans of the angry protesters who said they are fed up by rising food prices, high unemployment and official corruption. The demonstrators also tore down posters of Mubarak.
Three people were martyred during the nationwide protests, which were broken up with tear gas overnight. Tuesday’s protests began small but grew all day. Shortly after midnight, police dispersed about 10 thousands of demonstrators who staged a sit-in Tahrir Square in central Cairo by tear gas. And early Wednesday morning, the police were more resolute with the protesters firing rubber bullets, tear gas and concussion grenades, but the sit-in was transformed into a spreading battle involving thousands of people and little restraint. Plainclothes officers beat several demonstrators, and protesters flipped over a police car and set it on fire, eyewitnesses revealed.
Egyptian interior ministry has announced Wednesday it’s banning street protests and any public gatherings and marches, the country's official news agency reported. “Anyone joining in unauthorized action will be detained and prosecuted,” the interior ministry said.
But protesters have vowed to stay until the government falls.
The protests are considered the largest display of popular dissatisfaction since 1977, when people across Egypt protested the elimination of subsidies for food and other basic goods.
These demonstrations were inspired by the Tunisian street protests, which successfully ended in the ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in rule.
Israel was watching developments in Lebanon and in Egypt with “deep concern”, Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor told the German Press-Agency dpa Wednesday. Yediot Ahronot analyst however undermined the Egyptian protests saying: “Egypt is neither Tunisia nor Lebanon. The Egyptian security forces are experienced in suppressing demonstrations.”
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