Egypt protesters try to rally again

Anti-government protesters in Egypt used social networking sites to call for a fresh wave of action today following the biggest demonstrations in years.

But the Interior Ministry warned that police would not tolerate any gatherings, marches or protests, suggesting that security forces would immediately crackdown at the first sign of trouble.

Across Cairo thousands of riot police were deployed in anticipation of fresh anti-government, Tunisia-inspired protests.

A day earlier, tens of thousands demonstrated in Cairo and several other Egyptian cities to call for president Hosni Mubarak’s removal and a solution to rampant poverty, rising prices and high unemployment.

Two protesters and a policeman were killed in the protests and 250 were wounded, including 85 policemen, when riot police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters shortly after midnight.

Medical officials said a third protester died today from injuries.

Activists organised yesterday’s protests, dubbed “day of revolution against torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment,” on the social networking site Facebook, and demonstrators spread word of where to gather on Twitter.

“All of Egypt must move, at one time,” the Facebook group organising the demonstrations said today, listing spots in Cairo and around the country where demonstrators should gather.

Thousands of police in riot gear and backed by armoured vehicles took up posts on bridges across the Nile, at major junctions and squares as well as outside key installations like the state TV building and the headquarters of Mr Mubarak’s ruling National democratic Party in central Cairo.

Yesterday’s unrest led the Egyptian stock market to tumble by more than 4% today, the first concrete sign that the demonstrations have impacted the country’s economy.

Security officials, meanwhile, said up to 200 protesters were detained early today during clashes between police and protesters.

More were likely to be detained as authorities review police video tapes of the protests.

The protests were Egypt’s biggest in years and are likely to fuel dissent in a presidential election year. Mr Mubarak, 82, has yet to say whether he plans to run for another six-year term in office. He is thought to be grooming his son Gamal to succeed him, a prospect that is opposed by many.