- Title: EGYPT: Small band of supporters of President Hosni Mubarak rally in Cairo
- Date: 3rd February 2011
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FEBRUARY 2, 2011) (REUTERS) ARMY BARRIER, SOLDIERS AND PROTESTERS IN BACKGROUND PRO-MUBARAK PROTESTERS GATHERED VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING: 'WITH OUR BLOOD AND SOULS WE SACRIFICE FOR YOU MUBARAK' (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED SUPPORTER OF MUBARAK, SAYING "I love the president. They brought the country to a halt, God punish those who brought the country to a halt." VARIOUS OF PRO-MUBARAK CHANTING EGYPTIAN FLAG HELD BY PROTESTERS PRO-MUBARAK PROTESTERS CHANTING 'GAMAL TELL YOUR FATHER THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE LOVE YOU' SIGN READING: 'WE WANT MUBARAK' (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LAWYER, KAMAL MOUSA, SAYING "Today I want to say those are the Egyptian people the original Egyptians who love Mubarak and love their nation and the laws of Egypt and do not want to bring down the government." MORE OF PROTEST
- Embargoed: 17th February 2011 21:29
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt, Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAAOU3427ELRHM4LELDJBT4VQ2F
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: A dozen protesters demonstrated in support of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in front of the Egyptian State TV building in downtown Cairo on Wednesday (February 2).
Sporadic pro-Mubarak protests have broken out in different areas near the Tahrir square in the city.
"I love the president," a woman at the protest said. "They brought the country to a halt, God punish those who brought the country to a halt."
"Today I want to say those are the Egyptian people the original Egyptians who love Mubarak and love their nation and the laws of Egypt and do not want to bring down the government," a lawyer Kamal Mousa said.
Mubarak said Tuesday (February 1) he would surrender power in September, angering protesters who want an immediate end to his 30-year-rule, and prompting the United States to say change "must begin now."
The 82-year-old leader said he would not seek re-election when his presidential termin September, saying he would work through the remaining months of his term, and that he would die on Egyptian soil.
His 10-minute speech was greeted with dismay among protesters whose numbers swelled above one million across Egypt on Tuesday after week-long demonstrations.
The army has prevented pro-Mubarak demonstrators from getting to Tahrir square where hundreds remain camped out calling on Mubarak to step down.
Washington, caught off guard by the wave of anger over oppression and hardship which has spread from Tunisia to one of its closest Arab allies, added pressure on Mubarak to speed up his response while stopping short of calling on him to quit.
Soon after Mubarak's speech, state television, which had largely ignored anti-government protests, broadcast footage of smaller demonstrations held in support of the president. These pro-government marches were an unusual development given there had so far been almost no sign of any counter-demonstrations. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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