Back from Egyptian turmoil to cuts in North Ayrshire
Anna Blyth • Published 17 Feb 2011 09:30
HAVING arrived on Day 7, I left Egypt on Day 14 of the 18-day mass protest that ended on Friday when Egypt's military dictator Hosni Mubarak reluctantly resigned as president.
The move brought to an end Mubarak's 30-year reign as (unchallenged) leader and signalled to Egypt's Arab neighbours and the wider world that – without the help of terrorism, violent protest or US/UK-led occupation – it remained possible for the people of an Arab state to unite in overthrowing tyranny in favour of democracy.
So far a loyal friend to both Israel and the United States, Egypt is the world's largest Arab country, populated by 80 million people. The protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square were made up of groups of largely secular, liberal Egyptians and Islamist Egyptians who united in non-violent opposition to Mubarak's abusive regime.
Admittedly, my own trip to Egypt was purely recreational, spending a week in the huge holiday resort that is Sharm el Sheikh, situated about 230 miles south of Cairo. Before the development of tourism, Sharm (or 'Charming Sharm' as it's been dubbed) was a large, unpopulated desert on the Red Sea and, as a result, doesn't really have any 'natives'.
For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.
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