Protests continue

After a month of demonstrations to protest against the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, Egyptians are continuing to show their support for the ravaged country, reports Mohamed El-Sayed. Following Friday prayers in Al-Azhar more than 3,000 worshippers clashed with riot police, hurling shoes at plainclothes policemen

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Meanwhile, solidarity movements established during the war are thinking of new means to show support for the Lebanese now the war has come to an end. The National Committee for Supporting the Lebanese and Palestinian Peoples has called for a huge demonstration to demand the expulsion of Israel's ambassador to Egypt and the recall of Egypt's ambassador in Tel Aviv.

The committee intends to move its protests from the streets into the conference hall, and has called for a national conference to bring together all political forces to discuss the best ways to help the Lebanese and Palestinians. Additionally, the committee will launch a website urging people to boycott all Israeli and American goods and services. The web portal will also document war crimes committed by the Israeli army in Lebanon, with the object of bringing a case before The Hague Tribunal.

On an official level, a parliamentary delegation headed by Fathi Sorour, speaker of the People's Assembly, plans to visit Lebanon to show support for its government following the ceasefire. The delegation will consist of the heads of the foreign affairs, Arab affairs, human rights and economy committees. The high-profile delegation will meet the Lebanese prime minister, the parliamentary speaker and MPs from all political forces to discuss how Egypt might help in reconstructing the ravaged country.