Clinton faces Egypt protests

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faced unprecedented protests on Saturday as she arrived in Egypt for key talks with President Mohammed Mursi.

Youth activists, MPs and journalists condemned the meeting, with many accusing the US of wanting to control the country.

The “Leftist Youth” movement in Alexandria announced it would protest Clinton's planned visit to the city's iconic library on Sunday, calling on activists to gather at the library's steps to prevent the Secretary from accessing the lobby.

The Egyptian Al Shorouk newspaper quoted Hassan Juma, coordinator of the movement in Alexandria, as saying: “We reject US intervention in Egypt's internal affairs and them dictating orders to the free people of Egypt.”

He also warned the Mursi of the repercussions Alexandria visit, claiming it would “arouse the wrath" of Egyptians.

Juma reminded the president of the fate of the ousted president Hosni Mubarak, saying that his alliance with America turned the people against him.

MP Mohamed Abu Hamed called on his personal Twitter account for a rally on Saturday in front of the presidential palace to protest Clinton's visit.

Jounalist Tawfiq Okasha, the owner of Alfaraen channel, called on Friday evening for activists to form a human chain from the Four Seasons hotel to the US Embassy.

The US Secretary of State is visiting Cairo for two days, where she will meet with Mursi and a number civil society activists. US Ambassador Anne Patterson described the visit as "very important."

Dictator Mubarak, who has toppled in a popular uprising last year, was a close ally of the United States and Israel.

Opposition to previous US state visits was violently suppressed by the country's security forces.

(Al-Akhbar, UPI)