Egypt sees Arab world’s first presidential debate
From the AP:
Two election front-runners, a former foreign minister and a moderate Islamist, squared off Thursday in the Arab world’s first ever presidential debate, trading barbs over the role of religion and how to bring democratic reform to Egypt.
Egyptians crowded around television sets in outdoor cafes for the four-hour debate, aired on several independent TV channels — a startling new experiment for Egypt after nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule under President Hosni Mubarak, ousted last year after a wave of protests.
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At one Cairo coffeeshop near Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the protests that brought down Mubarak, supporters of either candidates broke out in claps and cheers when either candidate hit on the other’s perceived weakness— scenes of public support mostly seen in Egypt only around football games.