Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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April 6, 2008

Egyptian Authorities Arrest Dozens to Stop General Strike
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1BCA209:A6F02AD83191E160762409C61A5A2D5530EB2FA2E66CBB22& Employees at the
factory in the city of Mahalla said the strike to protest high prices
and low wages was supposed to start during the morning shift change





An Egyptian activist protests during an anti-government demonstration
at the lawyers syndicate in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday 06 April 2008

Egyptian authorities have arrested nearly 100 anti-government
activists in an operation to prevent a nationwide strike against
Egypt's high prices and low wages.

Witnesses and activists say at least 94 people were arrested Sunday as
security forces fanned out across the country.  Among those detained
were opposition activists and bloggers who had used the Internet to
rally support for the strike.

More than 20,000 textile workers had planned to walk off the job today
to draw attention to Egypt's deteriorating economy. But their plans
were crushed overnight when hundreds of security men took over their
factory in the city of Mahalla el-Kubra.

Despite the crackdown, many people skipped work or school today.







Egyptian activists are surrounded by anti-riot soldiers during an
anti-government protest at the lawyers syndicate in Cairo, Egypt,
Sunday 06 April 2008

It is unclear who initiated the strike. The call to action spread
through mobile phone text messages and the Internet. 

The outlawed but popular opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood,
said it supported the strike but would not join it.

Egyptian authorities have arrested hundreds of the group's members in
recent weeks in the run-up to Tuesday's local elections.

The government has threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone who joins
today's planned strike.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP & Reuters.




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