Source: Agencies, 29-12-2008
Thousands of protesters rallied in the Egyptian capital on Monday against "Israel's" three-day-old onslaught against the neighboring Gaza Strip. Riot police were out in force to monitor the demonstration outside the journalists' union in the city centre.
Among the demonstrators was Mohammed Mehdi Akef, supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood which remains outlawed but is partially tolerated by the authorities.
"Off to Gaza we go, martyrs by the million," "We all belong to Hamas," and "Where's the Egyptian army?" were among the slogans chanted by the crowd.
Some demonstrators demanded that the "Israeli" ambassador be expelled or even that the embassy be burned down. With Jordan, Egypt is one of only two Arab states to have signed a peace treaty with "Israel" and exchanged ambassadors.
Some protesters vented their anger against President Hosni Mubarak, chanting: "Down with Mubarak."
The Egyptian leader held talks with "Israeli" Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni last week just two days before the launch of the air blitz against the Gaza Strip which has now killed well over 300 people.
Their talks drew charges from the opposition that Mubarak was complicit in the "Israeli" decision to launch the offensive on Saturday. The Egyptian embassies in Amman and Beirut have also been the focus of protests.
Egypt has participated in the "Israeli" siege for the last months, after it closed Rafah crossing, the only path that links Gaza with the outside world, refusing to listen to the calls demanding its opening.