Rallies near UN call for human rights in Egypt

NEW YORK — Egyptian-Americans and human rights activists have rallied in New York to celebrate the ouster of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and to call for human rights reforms in that nation.

The two separate demonstrations Saturday near the United Nations came one day after Mubarak was ousted from power. On Saturday the ruling military pledged to eventually hand power to an elected civilian government.

Egyptian-American activist Ayman El-Sawa said he was thrilled that Mubarak was gone.

But Amnesty International's senior director for international law and policy Widney Brown said authorities in Egypt must press forward with human rights reforms.

Fewer than 200 people attended the two rallies.

Spontaneous demonstrations broke out in New York and other U.S. cities when Mubarak agreed to step down Friday after 18 days of protests.


(2011-2-12/wsj.com)