Newcastle - solidarity with the Egyptian masses

Between 50 and 100 protesters gathered at Newcastle students' union to demonstrate their solidarity with the Egyptian masses. The messages on the banners, both in English and Arabic, were clear: "Mubarak must go".

Elaine Brunskill

One of the protesters, Rana Salem, a young woman from Alexandria, said she had waited all her life for this revolution. However she felt very frustrated to be in Britain on a gap year while the mass protests are taking place in her home city and across Egypt.

Rana explained she had turned up at the Newcastle demonstration to defend the masses in Egypt, saying: "People are being killed in Tahrir Square. We want the world to know we are standing with our people in Egypt.

" We want this rotten regime removed as soon as possible - before there is more loss of life.

" This regime has ruled for 30 years, but now we will not tolerate another seven months."

Rana also expressed the view that "Mubarak thinks he owns Egypt. He is prepared to burn Egypt in revenge [of the uprising].

"He is acting like a Pharaoh!". Similar views were expressed by Fatma Soliman who said: "We have suffered under Mubarak's regime for 30 years.

" Look at all the people who have died this week, especially last night when he gave the order to kill unarmed protesters."

All of the protesters we spoke to expressed the view that Mubarak and his corrupt regime must go now - understanding that if he is allowed to stay until September there could be brutal attacks on anyone who could be identified as a protester.

Mervat Gad expressed the view felt by many demonstrators very succinctly: "Mubarak is killing our people. I want him to go. That is all I need to say!".

Public Meeting:

Come along to discuss how the working people and poor of the Middle East are rising up against rotten and corrupt dictatorships.

7.30pm, Wednesday, 9th February

Old George Pub, Cloth Market, Newcastle

Speaker: Tracy Edwards - National PCS Young Members Organiser (personal capacity)

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