Anti-Mubarak rally staged outside UN HQ

A massive crowd of Egyptians has staged a rally outside UN headquarters in New York to show their support for the anti-government demonstrations in their homeland.

Egyptian-American protesters chanted slogans denouncing President Hosni Mubarak at the rally, which was held on Saturday.

“Egyptian blood is our blood” and “Freedom and Democracy in Egypt” were some of the slogans written on banners held up by the people, AFP reported.

Meanwhile, the protesters, who had gathered in downtown Cairo on Saturday night, set a building of Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) on fire for the second time.

Tanks and armored personnel carriers could be seen on the streets of Cairo while fires from Friday’s violence are still smoldering.

Some mobile phone networks resumed service in the capital on Saturday after being shut down by authorities on Friday. Internet services, however, remain cut.

In addition, twelve people were killed in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Beni Suef, located about 115 kilometers (72 miles) south of Cairo, on Saturday.

The number of people killed in protests since Friday is reported to be at least 100. More than 2,000 were also injured in clashes that have rocked Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s main opposition movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, is calling for the establishment of an interim government without the ruling NDP.

The Brotherhood said there should be a peaceful transfer of power and advised Egyptians to continue to hold protests.

The Muslim Brotherhood has warned that Egypt will explode if Mubarak continues to refuse to listen to the people’s demands.