An international human rights group has criticized the Palestinian Authority (PA) for dispersing a demonstration in support of anti-government protests in Egypt.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday that the organizers of the rally have been harassed by PA police.

The police also dispersed the photographers, who were trying to cover the event, HRW said.

Police pushed away 50 young protesters who gathered outside the Egyptian Embassy in Ramallah on Sunday afternoon to support the protests against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, AFP reported.

Protesters have told HRW that PA security officials have interrogated one of the organizers of the rally three times within 24 hours.

The security officials have told2 the organizer to cancel the event because “there were orders that no event related to Tunisia or Egypt was allowed at this time,” HRW quoted him as saying.

HRW has urged the Palestinian Authority’s security forces to stop what it calls arbitrary interference with peaceful demonstrations.

In recent days, there have been several demonstrations across the world, especially in the Arab countries, in support of the popular uprising in Egypt.

PA, however, has refused to comment about the developments in Egypt. It has only said it hoped the country would weather the unrest.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials say Tel Aviv is seeking support from the US, Russia, China, Canada and several European countries to help keep Mubarak in power amid a mounting popular uprising against him.

In Egypt, the popular uprising against the government of Mubarak began last Tuesday. The Egyptian protesters say they want Mubarak to step down.

The number of people killed in protests since Tuesday is reported to be at least 100. More than 2,000 were also injured in clashes that have rocked Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria.

(Press TV)