Egypt

In spite of tentative steps toward a multi-party, more democratic system, the Egyptian government is entering the new year on tenuous ground with its largest benefactor, the United States . The Mubarak regime?s lofty rhetoric that accompanied the run-up to Egypt?s first multi-party presidential elections and the 2005 parliamentary elections created high expectations both among the Egyptian populace and in Washington, where the administration hoped to see efforts to promote democracy in the Middle East vindicated. The elections were, instead, marred by widespread charges of voter intimidation and harsh targeting of the opposition by the government. Eleven people were killed and hundreds injured during the parliamentary polling of December 7. Mubarak?s secular opposition candidate, Ayman Nur, was jailed on dubious charges of forgery and sentenced to five years? hard labor.