EGYPT: Tensions increase on streets of Cairo, Alexandria

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Protesters, enraged by President Hosni Mubarak’s refusal to step down, have taken to the streets in Cairo and Alexandria, where some report rising tensions between demonstrators and the military.

The increasingly edgy atmosphere was evident in a series of tweets from Ahmed Mekkawy, a blogger who joined the crowds in Alexandria late Thursday:

Rage is extreme in alexandria

Very large protest moving from sidi gaber to the sea

I can feel the hate in the air. Very worried about what will happen

Protest stopped at the army command center in sidi gaber. People are sittong (sic) on the ground The rage is going to the army now, calls to them to remove hosny (sic)

Chants: people want to execute the president

North area military command center is getting totally surrounded by protestors

I swear something big will happen in alexandria today

The army is installing loud speakers in north area military command center, seems we will have an announcement

The situation among protesters in Alexandria appears to be deteriorating.

The number of protestors (sic) are decreasing alot here, everybody is moving to sidi gaber train station

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— Molly Hennessy-Fiske