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Tens of thousands of demonstrators protested around the country facing down a massive police presence to demand the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak -- in power for 30 years -- in protests inspired by Tunisia's popular uprising.
The protests were the largest and most significant since riots over bread subsidies shook the Arab world's most populous nation in 1977, analysts said.
"Mubarak, clear off, you are unfair, you starve us, you torture us in your police stations and you are an agent of America," said one mother, who joined the protests in the middle-class area of Mohandesseen in Cairo, waving an Egyptian flag.
Behind her, others demanded "Bread, Freedom, Dignity."
The crowd, mainly young people, managed to mobilise with the help of social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as through mobile text messages.
Ironically, last week Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Egypt had around 60 million mobile phone users, in an effort to highlight economic progress in the country.
The uprising in Tunisia, which led to the ouster of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power, served to inspire the Egypt protests which also broke out in several other cities.
Ben Ali's departure to Saudi Arabia gave protesters material for the chants at the protests and the jokes.
"Mubarak, Mubarak, Saudi is waiting for you," some protesters chanted.
A popular joke making the rounds describes a phone call between Mubarak and Ben Ali, while the latter was on a plane out of Tunisia.
"Hello Hosni. See what they have done to me? Can I come and spend the night at your place tonight?," Ben Ali said.
Mubarak replies: "Of course not, are you crazy? You ruined everything for all of us. Go to Abdullah's in Saudi Arabia and tell him I say hi and that I may be performing an early pilgrimage this year."
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The protests were the largest and most significant since riots over bread subsidies shook the Arab world's most populous nation in 1977, analysts said.
"Mubarak, clear off, you are unfair, you starve us, you torture us in your police stations and you are an agent of America," said one mother, who joined the protests in the middle-class area of Mohandesseen in Cairo, waving an Egyptian flag.
Behind her, others demanded "Bread, Freedom, Dignity."
The crowd, mainly young people, managed to mobilise with the help of social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as through mobile text messages.
Ironically, last week Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Egypt had around 60 million mobile phone users, in an effort to highlight economic progress in the country.
The uprising in Tunisia, which led to the ouster of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power, served to inspire the Egypt protests which also broke out in several other cities.
Ben Ali's departure to Saudi Arabia gave protesters material for the chants at the protests and the jokes.
"Mubarak, Mubarak, Saudi is waiting for you," some protesters chanted.
A popular joke making the rounds describes a phone call between Mubarak and Ben Ali, while the latter was on a plane out of Tunisia.
"Hello Hosni. See what they have done to me? Can I come and spend the night at your place tonight?," Ben Ali said.
Mubarak replies: "Of course not, are you crazy? You ruined everything for all of us. Go to Abdullah's in Saudi Arabia and tell him I say hi and that I may be performing an early pilgrimage this year."
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