CAIRO - Several dozen Egyptians waving banners and chanting slogans against President Hosni Mubarak joined a protest in Cairo on Friday to call for political reforms, watched by several thousand police.
"Enough!" said one banner, in an apparent reference to Mubarak's 24-year rule in Egypt and his expected decision to run for a sixth term in a vote later this year.
"No to the Renewal of Mubarak's mandate," shouted some demonstrators near a mosque during a book fair in the Egyptian capital.
"No to heredity," referring to speculation that if Mubarak does not stand his eldest son Gamal will be anointed president instead.
Under the Egyptian system, parliament will elect in May a candidate to stand for the presidency, who will subsequently be put for approval to the people at a referendum in September.
The opposition has long called for constitutional reform to allow the president to be chosen from a list of candidates by universal suffrage, as well as for a reduction of the presidential powers.
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