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Crisis In Egypt Reverberates In 'Little Egypt' In Queens

NEW YORK (WCBS 880 / CBS 2) - Worries continue in the Little Egypt neighborhood of Queens as the chaos in Egypt enters its tenth day.

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WCBS 880's Paul Murnane talks with residents of Little Egypt

Over coffee, tea, and tobacco, the conversation seems to be all about politics and the future. Mohammad, an Egyptian who has lived in New York for five years, says he wonders about Tehran's influence if Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak suddenly departs.

"I think Omar Shaban is going to take over... until we find somebody else," Mohammad told WCBS 880 reporter Paul Murnane.

Mohammad believes "the situation is going to be worse and worse" if Mubarak doesn't leave.

There is no shortage of sentiment that change must occur, but one Egyptian who has lived here for more than twenty years says that Egypt is a nation of 85 million and Mubarak has not been running some sort of "coffee shop."

Pro-Mubarak forces have now attacked the opposition in Cairo's main square and Friday is being proclaimed the "day of departure." People are fearing even more violence then.

Area residents have been relieved to get out of Egypt as the protests erupted. The crisis has prompted local protests, with pro- and anti-Mubarak supporters making their voices heard.

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