One of the feared consequences of the war in Iraq is the destabilization of other countries in the region, and the first hints of this are occurring in Egypt, where protests against the war have increasingly been turning against the government despite its anti-war stance. Laws establishing emergency rule have been routinely renewed since they were passed in 1981 after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat. The laws allow the government to detain indefinitely anyone deemed a threat to the state, without trial. The government also controls radio and TV and has a strong influence on newspapers. During anti-war protests, Egyptians are criticizing President Hosni Mubarak directly, an act that at other times and venues could result in arrest.
