BBC News Africa 25 January 2011 Last updated at 04:02 GMT
Egypt activists to hold Tunisia-inspired 'action day' Anti-government protesters wave Egyptian and Tunisian flags in Cairo, Egypt (15 Jan 2011) Small protests have been held in the capital in the past week to support Tunisia Anti-government activists in Egypt are preparing for a rare day of protest, inspired by the recent political upheaval in Tunisia. Organisers have called for a "day of revolt against torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment". But the government has warned they face arrest and is calling its supporters out in a counter-demonstration. Weeks of unrest in Tunisia eventually toppled President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia earlier this month. The events in Cairo are being co-ordinated on a Facebook page - tens of thousands of supporters have clicked on the page to say they will take part. "Our protest on the 25th is the beginning of the end," Reuters quoted the organisers as saying. "It is the end of silence, acquiescence and submission to what is happening in our country. It will be the start of a new page in Egypt's history - one of activism and demanding our rights." The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says event is a direct response to the campaign that ousted President Ben Ali of Tunisia, in which the internet also played an important part. But there is bound to be scepticism about exactly how many will actually turn up, say our correspondent. They know they could face a tough response from the police, who often break up protests with violence. In a statement, the government's security director in the capital said: "The security apparatus will deal firmly and decisively with any attempt to break the law." Egypt's political opposition is also divided - one leader, Mohamed El-Baradei, has called on Egyptians to take part, but the Muslim Brotherhood, still the most powerful opposition movement, has been more ambivalent. Egypt has many of same social and political problems that brought about the unrest in Tunisia - rising food prices, high unemployment and anger at official corruption. But protests so far have only been small-scale and correspondents say a similar political upheaval is unlikely. Are you in Cairo? Do you plan to attend the protest today? Send us your comments using the form below. Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions (Required) Name (Required) Your E-mail address (Required) Town & Country (Required) Your telephone number (Required) Comments In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name as you provide it and location unless you state otherwise. But your contact details will never be published. When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
