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Arab regimes vigilant as Iraqi resistance fans anti-US protests Jordan Times, 3/31/03 CAIRO (AFP) — Shocked by the outbreak of the war and the relentless bombing of Baghdad, Arab public opinion has been galvanised by the unexpected resistance put up by Iraq against the US-led invasion. The change of mood has forced Arab leaders to keep a tight watch on the streets amid fears they could quickly become the focus of public anger that more has not been done to halt the war. “The street is the private property of the leader and not a public space for the population to express itself as it wishes,” said the chief editor of the Lebanese daily As Safir, Talal Salman. Asma Mohammad, a student at Cairo University, expressed a widespread feeling of impotence: “If only we could help the Iraqis, fight ourselves, assist the wounded ... all we can do is protest and that does nothing.” On Saturday in the sprawling streets of Cairo, people were congratulating each other after an Iraqi staged a suicide bombing near the southern city of Najaf, killing four US soldiers. “We admire what the Iraqi army and people are doing to defend their lands,” Egypt's Parliament Affairs Minister Kamal Al Shazli said. The stiff Iraqi resistance has given grounds for hope to an Arab public, which is overwhelmingly opposed to war. Across Arab capitals, marchers demand the “opening of Arab borders” with Iraq so they can go and join the “resistance” or serve as “human shields.” Salman for his part noted that the increasingly anxious Arab regimes have “decided to take part in the protests themselves and to lead them.” In Egypt, the ruling party made the rare move on March 5 of organising its own antiwar rally attended by hundreds of thousands of people. Following the massive demonstrations that came with the outbreak of war, which saw violent clashes with security forces, Egyptian authorities also lifted the strict ban on street protests imposed since 1981 under emergency laws. The interior ministry said on March 21 it would authorise “peaceful” demonstrations if informed in advance, but it was clear security measures and even intimidation would remain in place. The Egyptian bar association said some 800 demonstrators had been arrested in three days of protests following the outbreak of the war on March 20, while New York-based Human Rights Watch expressed concern that many of those arrested were being tortured by police. The Internet has also been an outlet for Arab populations frustrated by the inaction of their governments. “To Arab and Muslim leaders who say they've done everything for Iraq, here are the demands of your people,” says a message posted by students from Alexandria University. “The closure of US and British embassies and the expulsion of their ambassadors, the opening of the door to holy war (and) the implementation of the Arab League Defence Treaty” which states that any attack on an Arab state is an attack against them all.”
Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah's.
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