EGYPT: 100s protest over Mubarak’s son succession.
By Guyson Nanagayi – Cairo -AFP- Hundreds of Egyptians on Tuesday gathered in central Cairo amid tight security, to protest against the rumours that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal will succeed him.
Mubarak who is now 82-years-old and has been in power since 1981, has not yet said whether he will run for a fifth six-year term, but is widely believed to be grooming his son Gamal for succession.
“We don’t want a hereditary government” and “no to Gamal” were among the slogans chanted by the demonstrators, who gathered near Abdine Palace, the president’s official residence.
The banned Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s main opposition group, was not present.
Some key opposition figures are calling for a boycott of the legislative polls due to the failure of the regime to meet demands for political reforms.
Several thousand police were deployed to contain the protest, which brought together supporters of Egypt’s Kefaya opposition movement, leftists and members of other opposition parties.
Egypt is due to hold parliamentary elections in November, followed by a presidential election next year.
