Ugly Scenes in Cairo
The big vote in Egypt took place, and it looked ugly.
The Guardian has more. So does Abu Aardvark who links to a number of Egyptian bloggers who were on the scene. Bush-hating snark alert on him, of course, but he asks a valid question: what do those of us who celebrated the "protest babes" and the spread of democracy have to say now?
UPDATE: Here's one, to which others have linked approvingly.
CAIRO, Egypt - Plainclothes government agents beat protesters Wednesday, then watched as President Hosni Mubarak's supporters punched other demonstrators in scattered violence that marred a referendum the 24-year ruler has called a crucial step toward democracy.
Female protesters in particular seemed to be targeted for beatings by both plainclothes state security agents and pro-Mubarak supporters, according to several witnesses and Associated Press reporters who saw the attacks.
"This is the first time this sort of beating and humiliation has taken place here in Cairo," said Abdel Halim Qandil of the opposition group Kifaya. He said it had been a problem before in provincial areas.
The government had no official reaction to the violence. Security officials said the clashes were between Mubarak supporters and Kifaya members, and that security officials were not involved. But AP reporters saw plainclothes agents taking instructions from both uniformed and non-uniformed government security officers.
The Guardian has more. So does Abu Aardvark who links to a number of Egyptian bloggers who were on the scene. Bush-hating snark alert on him, of course, but he asks a valid question: what do those of us who celebrated the "protest babes" and the spread of democracy have to say now?
[W]e're going to find out whether the world really is watching, and cares, the next few days. The world, and Bush.
UPDATE: Here's one, to which others have linked approvingly.
