EGYPT: Vancouver rally in support of protesters in Egypt

Egyptian Canadians demand an end to Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A small, but loud and angry crowd of Egyptian Canadians gathered in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery to support the efforts of anti-government protesters in their home country. Men, women and children alike held Egyptian flags, and signs reading, "Egypt deserves freedom."

Mohammed Mansour organized the demonstration and says Egyptians around the world have been inspired by the events taking place in Tunisia over the last several weeks. "We've tried to do stuff like this before, but it never worked, but when we saw that it worked somewhere else, we thought maybe we have a chance."

He says they're also supporting the efforts of their fellow countrymen who've clashed violently with police over the last two days. So far, more than 850 people have been arrested and several people have been killed.

President Hosni Mubarak has now banned any further protests in that country calling for his resignation.

 

Mubarak's son flees to Britain

The Egyptian president's son has fled to Britain as thousands continue to protest across the country against Hosni Mubarak's decades-long rule.

Gamal Hosni Mubarak

Mubarak's son, who is considered his successor, left the country along with his family amid the anti-government protests across Egypt which are the largest since Mubarak took power three decades ago.

The plane with Jamal Mubarak, his wife and daughter on board left for London Tuesday from an airport in western Cairo, the US-based Arabic website, Akhbar al-Arab reported on Wednesday. Officials did not immediately confirm the report while a spokesman from the US Embassy in Cairo categorically denied that Mubarak's fled Egypt. His departure comes as situation in Egypt remains tense with people pouring into the streets across the country to protest against Mubarak.

Heavily armed riot police have been deployed in major cities as the Egyptian government has banned any demonstrations, warning that protesters would be detained.  The opposition groups have called on people to take to the streets to continue anti-government protests.

At least four people, including a police officer, have already been killed in anti-government demonstrations across the country.

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