Egyptians defy curfew protests continue

“We have achieved something, the government has gone, but its not enough anymore”, these the words of one of the thousands of the protesters who are on the streets of Egypt, demanding the end of President Hosni Mubarak’s 30 year hold on power.

Speaking to Vatican Radio via phone from the capital Cairo, where along with family and friends he has marched for change, one young Egyptian protester tells Emer McCarthy that the Egyptian people “will continue to raise our voices until our demands are met, we want democratic reform, an end to arbitrary arrests and greater freedom”. “I hear a lot of rumours that it’s a revolution about hunger. Actually no, it’s a revolution about Egypt, about peace and freedom”.

The death toll from three days of angry protests in Egypt’s main cities now stands at over 50 people. On Friday President Mubarak addressed the nation promising change and on Saturday he accepted the government’s resignation only to appoint a former Defence Minister and Air Force general Prime Minister hours later. Also on Saturday 82 year-old Mubarak appointed a vice president for the first time ever.

Meanwhile, defying a curfew, massive anti-government demonstrations swept through downtown Cairo. Thousands of protesters tried to storm the Interior Ministry located in the heart of the city, before being fired on by police.

“We need peoples’ support”, appeals the young protester from Cairo, “I’ve seen people dying yesterday and children unable to breathe because of tear gas fired by police. It was a real tragedy. The protests started after Friday prayer, we were all together, one nation, Christian and Muslim, rich and poor, marching peacefully for change. It is a real tragedy how the police is dealing with citizens. And its going to continue I don’t think it’s going to stop. The police should be there to help the people. Not to shoot at them. This is completely against any human rights”.
Listen to the full interview: