Tens of thousands protest Egypt regime in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, Feb 04, 2011 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of people protested against President Hosni Mubarak in the Egyptian city of Alexandria Friday, on what activists have dubbed his 'day of departure.'

An AFP photographer said crowds had gathered at the Qaed Ibrahim mosque in the centre of Egypt's second city, which sits on the Mediterranean coast.

The protesters, a majority of them from the opposition Muslim Brotherhood movement, shouted "Down with Mubarak! Down with the regime!"

Members of other opposition groups were also present, including activists from the Kefaya (Enough) and 6th April movements and supporters of Egyptian Nobel Peace prize winner and leading dissident Mohamed ElBaradei.

Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Sobhi Saleh said another group of around 25,000 protesters had massed in Alexandria's Raml neighbourhood, and planned to converge with the main gathering before marching to the city's Sidi Gaber square.

Anti-Mubarak demonstrators who have protested against his regime over the last 11 days called for massive rallies across Egypt on Friday, with the goal of making it the embattled ruler's 'day of departure.'

A security source said tens of thousands of demonstrators were on the streets in cities across Egypt, and Cairo's Tahrir Square, the focal point for the anti-regime protesters, was jam-packed with a massive rally.

Mubarak has offered some concessions to protesters seeking to end his 30-year rule, including pledging not to stand for re-election in September.

But he has shown no sign that he will step down immediately, the central demand of anti-government protesters.

str-iba/sah/cjo/kir