Protests and criticism await Bush in Egypt

Cairo: When the Egyptian officials roll out the red carpet for US President George W. Bush on Wednesday in the resort town of Sharm Al Sheikh, anti-US activists will stage protests against the visit in Cairo.

“Our rally is aimed at telling Bush that he is not welcome in Egypt due to his policies in the Middle East,'' said Mohammad Abdul Qadous, the head of the Egyptian Press Syndicate's Freedom Committee, which organises the protest with the Bar Association.

Bush's visit to Egypt is part of an eight-day regional trip he is making months before the end of his term. Days before Bush sets foot in Egypt, one of the region's key US allies, independent MP Moustafa Bakri formally demanded the government to cancel the visit.

"Bush is a war criminal, responsible for the killing of more than one million in Iraq. He constantly meddles in Egypt's internal affairs," Bakri said in a statement.