![The Nile Delta city of Mahalla was the scene of violent protests in April by textile workers [AFP]](http://mwcnews.net/images/stories/Egypt/2/3/4/Mahalla.jpg "The Nile Delta city of Mahalla was the scene of violent protests in April by textile workers [AFP]") | | The Nile Delta city of Mahalla was the scene of violent protests in April by textile workers [AFP] |
Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, celebrates his 80th birthday on Sunday, amid a wave of discontent as well as a call for Egyptians to stay at home in protest against price increases and alleged human rights abuses.
As official news outlets praised Mubarak as a "hero of social justice", calls went out by email, text message and via Facebook, the social networking website, for a day of so-called civil disobedience.
The online group, which has attracted around 75,000 members, called on Egyptians to do what they can to protest.
"Wear black clothes ... or stay at home if you can ... hang a black flag next to an Egyptian flag outside your house ... don't buy anything on the day ... boycott state-owned papers," the Facebook page urged. Relaxed atmosphere
On Tuesday, the Muslim Brotherhood, the main opposition group in Egypt, supported the day of protest.
"The Muslim Brotherhood declares its endorsement of the call to stay at home next May 4, with the exception of those working in medical and public service institutions, and those who have exams in any educational institution," the group said in a statement. Mahalla disturbances
On April 6, a day of nationwide action was called, resulting in riots erupting in the Nile Delta industrial city of Mahalla, where three people had died and hundreds were detained after demonstrators pulled down posters of Mubarak.
Esraa Abdel Fattah, 27, who created a Facebook group calling for the April 6 strike, was arrested and jailed for three weeks for "inciting unrest".In recent months, a number of strikes and protests have occurred in Egypt against low salaries and price rises.
The rising public anger is considered one of the most serious challenges to Mubarak government.
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