Egyptians slam Mubarak son’s candidacy

Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Cairo to protest against Gamal Mubarak’s plans to succeed his father as the Egyptian president.

Chanting anti-government slogans, angry protesters said they do not want “a hereditary government” and that the next president should be elected by the Egypt people.

It is widely believed that Gamal, a high-ranking member of the ruling party, will succeed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Hundreds of riot police were deployed outside Abdin palace, the president’s official residence and attacked demonstrators who were trying to march right up to the palace.

Egyptian police also detained dozens of activists and beat many others. They also seized videotapes of some of the journalists covering the demonstration.

“They have been beating us. You can see the blood on my neck. We are a republic, not a kingdom,” said an activist, adding that “If Gamal Mubarak becomes president; this country will go to hell. He cares only about businessmen.”

“The people of Egypt are all dying. We are dying of poverty and we are dying of a lack of freedom”, he added.

The demonstrators also burnt pictures of Gamal and effigies of President Mubarak.

Similar protest took place in Alexandria and 30 demonstrators were arrested there.

Egypt will be hold presidential election next year. However, 82-year-old Mubarak, who has been ruling Egypt for nearly three decades, has not announced if he will run for another term.

Under the recent constitutional amendments, Gamal Mubarak is one of the few people in Egypt qualified to run in the presidential election.

Mohamed ElBaradei, who formerly ran the International Atomic Energy Agency, is considered a potential rival presidential candidate to Gamal.