AFRICA/EGYPT - “Numbers rising in the protest movement, expectations for a huge demonstration tomorrow” Fr Verdoscia tells Fides

Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - “Tension is rising and we are awaiting tomorrow's protest, Friday of prayer for Muslims, when it is estimated that there will be a million people in the square,” Fr Luciano Verdoscia, a Comboni missionary who works in Cairo tells Fides. “In fact numbers are rising in the protest movement because people's frustrations with the regime's corruption is increasing,” explains the missionary. “Television in fact continues to report news on the scandals of the regime, something unthinkable only a few days ago. The people are shocked by the scandals weighing on their shoulders and on the State's coffers which is not in a position to assure decent social services. All this is inflaming minds and hearts. The Egyptians want to live in peace. They do not want war, but when they see that they cannot continue like this, they decide to express themselves because they no longer fear being repressed,” concludes Fr Luciano. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/2/2011)