More Egypt riots seen; Obama urges restraint

CAIRO - Violence escalated in two cites outside the capital Cairo yesterday where anti-government protesters torched a fire station and looted weapons that they then turned on police. Egypt's top democracy advocate declared he was ready to lead the campaign to oust longtime President Hosni Mubarak.

In the flashpoint city of Suez, east of Cairo, witnesses said rioters firebombed the main fire station and firefighters jumped out windows to escape the flames. In the northern Sinai area of Sheik Zuweid, several hundred Bedouins and police exchanged gunfire, killing a 17-year-old boy. About 300 protesters surrounded a police station and fired two RPGs at it, damaging the walls.

Social networking sites were abuzz with talk that today's rallies could be some of the biggest so far calling for the ouster of Mubarak after 30 years in power. Millions gather at mosques across the city for Friday prayers, providing organizers with a huge number of people already out on the streets to tap into.

By last night, Facebook, Twitter, cell-phone text messages as well as Blackberry Messenger services were interrupted, possibly a move by authorities to hamper protesters from organizing.

The United States, Mubarak's main Western backer, has been publicly counseling reform and an end to the use of violence against protesters, signs Mubarak may no longer be enjoying Washington's full backing.

In an interview broadcast live on YouTube, President Obama said the anti-government protests filling the streets show the frustrations of Egypt's citizens. "It is very important that people have mechanisms in order to express their grievances," Obama said.

Noting that Mubarak has been "an ally of ours on a lot of critical issues," Obama added: "I've always said to him that making sure that they're moving forward on reform, political reform and economic reform, is absolutely critical to the long-term well-being of Egypt."