Egyptians call for end to Mubarak regime

NEW YORK, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Egyptian Americans staged a protest at U.N. headquarters, saying they wanted an end to the rule of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Scores of protesters gathered in front of the U.N. building in New York chanting anti-Mubarak slogans, Egypt's daily newspaper al-Masry al-Youm reports.

"We have 20 free tickets for Arab rulers to travel to Jeddah," one protest banner read. The message referenced the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia that led the country's president to flee to Saudi Arabia after 23 years in office.

The protest was organized by the National Association for Change, a movement loyal to Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei. More protests are scheduled Tuesday to coincide with the so-called Egyptian day of anger. The Egyptian newspaper said protests are scheduled at the Egyptian embassies in Washington and London.

Protest suicides are on the rise across North Africa after a self-immolation sparked Tunisian unrest. An Egyptian man set himself on fire in front of the Egyptian Parliament recently but survived.

Mubarak has been in office since assuming power in 1981 after the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. He is expected to seek re-election during elections this year.