Egypt: choler and candles

Egyptians will take to the streets on Sunday -- Hosni Mubarak's 80th birthday -- but they will not be well-wishers. 

There is rising public discontent over food price increases, and momentum is building behind plans for a general strike. The Muslim Brotherhood, the most powerful opposition movement, last week added its voice to leftists and liberal oppositionists calling for protests.

Mubarak has taken some of the sting out of discontent with a proposed pay rise of 30% for public sector employees, rather than the 15% previously announced. Instead of waiting for the start of the financial year on July 1, the government should try to pay the increase with immediate effect, added Mubarak.

Urban inflation in the year to March has hit 14.4%, the highest rate in three years. The price of cooking oil has also soared over the past year by 45.2%, while foodstuffs generally rose by an average of 23.5%. It has catalysed a number of strikes, including a day of nationwide action on April. The day failed to develop into a general strike to coincide with a textile factory strike, but generated riots in which three died.

Although the Muslim Brotherhood is now on board, presumably stung by the jailing of 25 leading members on April 15, the regime should contain the protests. But Mubarak may not be in the mood for celebrating.