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Cutting off the internet threatens to weaken an opposition that began with no leaders but built its strength in numbers thanks to online organizing. The protesters have used new media tools to rally those angry with President Hosni Mubarak's authoritarian regime.
The government quickly recognized this and began blocking access to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter Wednesday, disrupting cell phone text messaging and BlackBerry Messenger services and then completely shutting down the internet. About 25 percent of Egypt's population uses the internet, according to BBC News.
He will also be in Egypt in time for Friday's protests, which are expected to be huge. The Muslim Brotherhood plans on joining the protests. They will take place after the Friday prayers.