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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Jerusalem Post:

Egyptian youth group: Halt gas shipments to Israel
By JPOST.COM STAFF
02/16/2011 11:36
April 6 youth movement says if military doesn't meet our demands, "we'll be on the street again"; says army still loyal to Mubarak.

A coordinator of Egypt's April 6 Youth Movement told USA Today on Wednesday that if the group's demands "are not met, we'll be on the street again."

Among the group's demands - one that breaks with the stated policy of the military government - was the halting of natural gas shipments to Israel, citing what it called Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians, according to the report.

The youth movement, along with 10 other democracy activist groups, was scheduled to meet with Egypt's ruling Armed Forces Supreme Council later in the day, USA Today reported.

Tarek el-Khouly said that his group met with the military earlier in the week but did not make any demands at that time, according to the report. Because it has since become disillusioned with the pace of change taking place in Egypt, Khouly said, they will now make formal demands in the meeting.

Speaking of the military commanders running Egypt's temporary government, he said: "At the end of the day, they're [deposed Egyptian president Hosni] Mubarak's appointees and loyal to him. The proof is he's still in Sharm e-Sheikh under their protection." Previewing one of April 6's demands, he added, "We want him held accountable," USA Today reported.

Among its other demands, Khouly said that a transitional and technocratic civilian government must be immediately appointed, and restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of association and forming political parties be lifted without delay, according to the report.

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