WITH British forces in action in Libya, a Hertfordshire Euro MP flew in to neighbouring Egypt, to join efforts to support the pro-democracy ‘Arab spring’.
MEP Richard Howitt took part in a cross-parliamentary EU observer mission for a referendum to enable fully democratic elections in Egypt, and to gauge reaction to the UN-mandated military action just across the border.
The Labour politician visited continuing democratic protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square – the focal point of the revolution.
He also met the controversial Islamist Muslim Brotherhood who some fear could turn Egypt in to an extreme fundamentalist state.
Mr Howitt said: “There was a palpable post-revolutionary spirit where the result of the referendum seemed less important than the experience for the Egyptian people to take part in the first genuinely democratic poll in their lifetime.”
He added: “I was struck by how little sympathy there was for Colonel Gaddafi but, with one million Egyptians working in Libya and refugees fleeing across the border, I also have a genuine trepidation about what will come next.”
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