AP: Egypt Students Demonstrate for Democracy

By PAKINAM AMER,
Associated Press Writer

April 4, 2005

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) _ About 300 university students staged a rowdy protest in downtown Cairo on Monday calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down and further democratic reforms.
The protest, held on the grounds of the American University in Cairo, was the latest in a series of demonstrations aimed at increasing political freedoms in Egypt, the Arab world's largest country which Mubarak has ruled since 1981.
Truckloads of police cordoned off the university during the protest, which comes ahead of planned September presidential elections in which more than one candidate _ other than the president _ will be able to stand.
"Change for Change ... Not for Bush," said one student banner in reference to contentious Middle East reform calls by U.S. President George W. Bush.
Another said: "No more extensions. No to Succession," displaying opposition to Mubarak continuing as president or handing power to his youngest son, Gamal.
"One of our main demands would be the immediate seizure of emergency law, limitation of how many terms a president can be in office, and free elections observed by UN personals," said Ahmed el-Droubi, one of the protest organizers.
Egyptians enjoyed a brief period of protest following Mubarak's surprise Feb. 26 call on the parliament, which his National Democratic Party dominates, to amend the constitution to allow for open presidential elections.
But security officials have since cracked down, arresting members of Egypt's largest Islamic movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, and banning protests. Officials have been particularly angered by criticism of Mubarak and his family.