EGYPT: "ENOUGH" BACK ON THE STREETS IN CAIRO

UNCLAS CAIRO 002516

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM ASEC EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: "ENOUGH" BACK ON THE STREETS IN CAIRO

REF: A. CAIRO 2433

B. CAIRO 1413

Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) As of 1630 local time on March 30, 300-400
demonstrators from Kifaya ("Enough"),a loose coalition of
opponents of the GOE, were gathered in front of the Press
Syndicate building (about one mile from the U.S. Embassy)
holding banners rejecting a fifth presidential term for
Mubarak, rejecting "inheritance of rule" (a slogan aimed at
Presidential son Gamal Mubarak),and demanding a repeal of
the emergency law. The protesters met at the Press Syndicate
when thousands of riot troops blocked access to the
Parliament building. (Comment: Embassy operations were not
affected by today's demonstration. End comment.)


2. (SBU) Although the demonstration (and especially police
efforts to contain it) again caused serious traffic snarls in
Central Cairo, major arteries remained open and there have so
far been no reports of arrests or violence. However, arrests
of demonstrators, and particularly organizers, may be
inevitable - especially because the GOE gave notice several
days ago that this particular demonstration would not/not be
authorized.


3. (SBU) This demonstration is the latest of a series of
small but well publicized actions by Kifaya. Kifaya is an
umbrella group comprising a wide spectrum of regime opponents
ranging from communists to Nasserists to Islamists. The
group members' only common denominators appear to be
opposition to the Mubarak regime and opposition to
"U.S.-Zionist imperialism." (See ref B for more information
on Kifaya and its activities.)


4. (SBU) Security forces' decision not to block the streets
today allowed a larger (but still modest) number of
demonstrators to congregate than during the Muslim
Brotherhood's thwarted March 27 demonstration (ref A). At
that time, the massive security operation sealed off most of
Central Cairo's principal arteries, essentially paralyzing
the city for several hours.


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GRAY