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The events in Egypt that incredibly propelled President Mubarak out of power after 18 days of protests have surprised everyone, probably Egyptians too.

The main reason for the protests was political, the yearning of the people for the ending of repression and for a new era of democracy. But part of the anger of the people, especially the young, arose from serious economic and social problems. Poverty has been growing in recent years, affecting one in four people. Unemployment jumped to 10% while the rate was one-third for young men.

And then there are the increasing prices of food.  Food accounts for almost half the average Egyptian household expenditure. In 2008 there were riots in Egypt over the rising price of bread, which was part of the dramatic global food price inflation in that year.  The global recession ended that round of inflation, but in recent months the prices of foods and other commodities have been jumping up again.

The protests in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East were partly fuelled by food prices, according to the World Food Programme.  “In many of the protests, demonstrators have brandished loaves of bread or displayed banners expressing anger about the rising cost of food staples such as lentils,” said its executive director Josette Sheeran.

As food prices are soaring around the world, the potential for social unrest is also increasing.