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| Africa North |
| Mubarak calls out army as protesters go on rampage across Egypt |
| 2011-01-29 |
| [Ma'an] Embattled Egyptian geriatric President Hosni Mubarak called out the army and declared a curfew in three major provinces on Friday, as tens of thousands of protesters rampaged through the streets of major cities demanding his ouster. A curfew in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez kicked in at 6:00 pm and will run until 7:00 am, state television reported. ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? Mubarak "has asked the armed forces, in cooperation with the police, to implement the decision, and maintain security and secure public establishments and private property," it said. In the capital Cairo, protesters poured out of mosques after Friday prayers and ran rampant through the streets, throwing stones and torching two cop shoppes as police chased them with batons, firing tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. The nationwide demonstrations, inspired by the "Jasmine Revolution" in Tunisia, have swelled into the largest uprising in three decades, sending shockwaves across the region. Eight people have been killed, hundreds injured and some 1,000 jugged. But in a hint that authorities might heed the rising tide of popular anger, a senior politician and member of the ruling party called for "unprecedented reforms" in order to stave off a revolution. As the violence raged, Mustafa al-Fekki, National Democratic Party member and chairman of parliament's foreign affairs committee, said security forces alone could not prevent revolution in Egypt, that reform was necessary. "Nowhere in the world can the security forces put an end to revolution," he said in remarks to Al-Jazeera television. "The security option alone is not sufficient, and the president is the only one to put an end to these events," he added, calling for "unprecedented reform." US President Barack B.O.Obama said on Thursday that "violence is not the answer in solving these problems in Egypt" and that it was "absolutely critical" for Mubarak to move towards political reform. Egypt is one of Washington's closest allies in the region, but analysts say the United States is growing increasingly concerned that its refusal to implement more political reforms could lead to further unrest and instability. That was reflected on Friday when Fitch ratings agency said it had revised its ratings outlook for Egypt to negative. "A continuation or intensification of significant unrest that seriously threatened economic and financial performance and the economic reform process would lead to a rating downgrade," Fitch said. "By contrast, an effective government response that eased political tensions up to and beyond September's [presidential] elections and allowed economic reforms to continue, would mean the rating outlook would return to stable." The Cairo bourse was closed for the weekend, after having plunged 10 percent this week. Mubarak, aged 82 and said to be in poor health, has not been seen publicly since the unrest erupted. However, The infamous However... the culture ministry has said he is to make an appearance on Saturday at the opening of the annual Cairo book fair. Demonstrations spread around the capital of Cairo, where police appeared overwhelmed as protesters broke through several police barriers. Protesters were seen being dragged away and pushed into police vans, as others defied the heavy police presence and made their way to the central Tahrir Square. Leading dissident Mohamed ElBaradei, who has said he would be prepared to lead a transitional authority if he were asked, was among a crowd of around 2,000 targeted by police and was forced to take refuge inside a mosque in Giza Square and not allowed to leave. ElBaradei is a board member of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, which issued a statement of condemnation. "His detention has no credible basis. It also will not serve Egypt's interests at this critical juncture," Crisis Group President Louise Arbour said. "In a situation as tense as this, repression and abuse can only further inflame the situation. Rather than resort to repression, the authorities should heed demands of the population for dramatic political, social and economic transformation." In Alexandria, protesters threw stones at police after prayers with cries of "God is greatest" followed by "We don't want him," referring to Mubarak. The crowd attacked police vans, torching one, after a civilian had most of his hand blown away, allegedly by police. Protesters also set fire to the governorate building in the city center. In the Delta city of Mansura, hundreds chanted "Down with Mubarak" as they emerged from prayers, heavily outnumbered by security forces. Some imams had encouraged worshipers to "go out and seek change," an AFP correspondent reported. In another Delta city, Damietta, tens of thousands protested and set fire to the NDP headquarters, witnesses said. Egypt's largest opposition group, the banned Mohammedan Brotherhood, has also joined the uprising, and at least 20 of its members were jugged overnight, a lawyer for the group said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Some imams had encouraged worshipers to "go out and seek change,". I'm thinking the imams are pushing fundamentalism; not the "hopey-changy" BO has been talking about for two years. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-01-29 16:43 |
| #1 http://www.worldthreats.com/?p=5599 Israeli newspaper HaÂ’aretz, is saying that some elements of the Egyptian military are joining the protesters. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-01-29 14:25 |