Egyptians fleeing Libyan anger pour into Tunisia

(Reuters) - Those behind the popular protest movement in Egypt may be basking in success but compatriots fleeing the uprising they inspired in Libya are in no mood to discuss democracy.

Thousands of Egyptian labourers have been pouring into Tunisia from Libya, where Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to crush a revolt closing in on him.

Many poor Egyptians spent years working in fields or on construction sites to support families back home. Some dreamed of saving enough to buy a home, or put their children through college.

To Egyptian labourers, Libya was a wealthy oil-producing country that could provide jobs and Gaddafi's iron-fisted rule did not figure in the equation.

Now they are stranded in a border town, oblivious to the uprisings across the Arab world that are capturing the world's attention and doubtful that the new Egypt can help them.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-libya-egypt-workers-idUSTRE71P1K120110226