REVOLUTIONARIES in Egypt are hoping that they can emulate Tunisia and topple the authoritarian pro-US Mubarak regime this week.
Tuesday January 25 has been named "Revolution Day on torture, poverty, corruption and unemployment" by organisers using a Facebook events page to bring thousands out onto the streets.
The Guardian reports that tens of thousands of supporters have posted comments suggesting Ben Ali's departure in Tunisia could be the precursor for Mubarak's downfall.
"If Tunisia can do it, why can't we?" read one. "We will either start living or start dying on 25 January."
Adds Reuters Africa: "Three more Egyptians set themselves alight on Friday, apparently inspired by an act of self-immolation in Tunisia that prompted protests that led to the ousting of the president.
"An unemployed 35-year-old Egyptian set himself alight and was seriously wounded, security and medical sources said.
"Two workers from firms in Egypt's textile sector, an industry from which many factory workers have led the most violent demonstrations against the government in recent years, also poured fuel over themselves and set themselves ablaze.
"Analysts say several self-immolation cases or attempted acts in Egypt, now numbering more than a dozen, seem to be driven by broadly similar complaints to those that drove Tunisians to the streets and toppled their president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali."
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