Montreal Protesters Call for Democracy in Egypt
Some 500 people demonstrated Saturday in the streets of Montreal, calling for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who has resisted pressure to quit despite an unprecedented uprising.
Joining Egyptians on the peaceful march to the Egyptian consulate were groups of Tunisians and Algerians, as well as civic leaders from Quebec and Amnesty International activists.
"It's a demonstration with everyone from Middle Eastern communities who want freedom and democracy," said Mohammed Kamel, an engineer who organized the march with fellow Egyptian Nabil Malek, both of whom are longtime Montreal residents.
Malek told AFP: "What we have seen in Egypt over these past 12 days is not a coup d'etat, but a revolution of the people against tyranny."
Demonstrators, who came with family and friends, carried banners calling for Mubarak's resignation and chanted slogans to show solidarity with protesters in Egypt, as well as with all Arabs.
"What is important is the solidarity between the people, this struggle for democracy. It's for this reason that the communities mobilized," said Sonia Djelidi, an activist who supported the recent regime change in Tunisia.
Similar events were planned in Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver. Demonstrations occurred Saturday in several cities in the United States, as well.
Source: Agence France Presse
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