Rally for Egyptians Saturday outside CNN

By Tim Eberly

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Organizers originally intended for today's gathering outside CNN headquarters to be another protest against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his long-entrenched government.

But with Mubarak's decision Friday to step down and relinquish power to the Egyptian military, the downtown Atlanta event has turned into a party.

"We will be celebrating -- of course -- the news from Egypt," organizer Sameh Abdelaziz said. "Nobody knew that these people were going to achieve this great historic accomplishment this fast."

Abdelaziz and several others have organized other gatherings on the two previous Saturdays as the call for Mubarak's removal intensified. The first was to demand that Mubarak step down; the second was to support the protesters in Egypt.

Abdelaziz said the previous two rallies have drawn 200 to 300 people, but he expects a larger crowd outside CNN today. The three-hour celebration will start at 1 p.m. according to a press release.