WASHINGTON: Freed Google worker Wael Ghonim, who has emerged as a prominent voice of Egyptian protests seeking to oust President Hosni Mubarak, told CNN on Wednesday he was "ready to die" for the cause."I have a lot to lose in this life," Ghonim told CNN in an interview in which he wept openly after discussing those who had died in the three weeks of demonstrations."I'm telling you, I am ready to die," he told CNN's Ivan Watson in the interview, which was conducted in English.
"I work in the best company to work for in the world. I had the best wife, I love my kids. But I'm willing to lose all of that for my dream to happen, and no one is going to go against our desire. No one."Addressing Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman, Ghonim delivered the message: "You are not going to stop us.""Kidnap me. Kidnap all my colleagues. Put us in jail. Kill us. Do whatever you want to do we are getting back our country. You guys have been ruining this country for 30 years. Enough, enough, enough," he said.The 30-year-old Egyptian who is the Google's marketing chief for the Middle East and North Africa was freed Monday after 12 days in custody, and was swiftly propelled to the forefront of the popular uprising, addressing huge crowds in Tahrir Square, epicenter of the protests against Mubarak.
Hailed as a hero, Ghonim has revealed he was behind the "We Are All Khaled Said" page on Facebook that has been credited with helping mobilize the pro-democracy protests."This is a crime," he said of the deaths of hundreds of protesters in clashes with pro-government activists. "(Mubarak) needs to step down," he said. It is "no longer time to negotiate."Egypt's government was meanwhile warning of a military crackdown as massive rallies against Mubarak continued to spread and reports surfaced that the army had detained and tortured pro-democracy activists.
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