Monday, January 31, 2011

Egypt: revolt continues, the power does not yield

Promises Hosni Mubarak and the appointment of a vice-president and a new prime minister did not persuade the Egyptians who are still took to the streets by the tens of thousands, Saturday, January 29 defying the curfew imposed by power. So it ended Sunday morning - at 8 am in Cairo, 7 hours in Paris - the Egyptians were preparing for another day of event, the sixth since the start of this popular movement in which more than one hundred people were killed .

Ordinary citizens, armed with sticks or knives, have organized themselves into village committee or neighborhood to take over from the police. "Because the government does not, we send our children form human shields to fight criminals," said a trader in Cairo. The army has asked the Egyptians to return home at night to cope with violence.

(See this video of Al Jazeera, in which a soldier urges the crowd to watch for looters). Witnesses said the army, however, ensures the protection of key public buildings and museums. In particular, the Cairo museum was vandalized on the night of Friday to Saturday: two mummies were damaged and dozens of stolen items.

According to the head of Egyptian antiquities, Zahi Hawass, the museum is now under control. The army was also deployed around other important archaeological sites like the pyramids of Giza and Luxor Temple. In Alexandria, clashes were erupted between police and demonstrators. Witnesses said there was firing real bullets.

In Rafah, in the north, the headquarters of State Security was attacked. There would be three dead among the police. Suez is a "broad field of battle." Part of protesters gathered outside the morgue where, according to medical sources, were brought the remains of a dozen people. Clashes took place with the police near the Interior Ministry, where demonstrators tried to enter.

Three demonstrators were killed, reports Al Jazeera. On Friday, Mr. Mubarak promised democratic reforms: "There will be new measures to an independent judiciary, democracy, to grant more freedom to citizens, to combat unemployment, raise living standards, expand services and support the poor.

" But he also warned that "it is not burning and attacking public and private property that we will respond to the aspirations of Egypt and his son, but through dialogue, awareness and effort." According to him, "the border is a fine line between freedom and chaos, and I look for people's freedom to express their opinions as much as I like the need to maintain security and stability of Egypt." Saturday evening, the composition of the government had not been announced.

Also information from Al-Jazeera and the BBC did report the presence in London the son of Hosni Mubarak, Gamal, and other family members. Assertions are contradicted by the official media. >> Read the chat: In Egypt, "the military will not remain inert when political power is cornered" He also expressed disappointment with the U.S.

position: "What is also extremely disappointing for the Egyptians, c 'is the message from the United States, who said they wanted to work with the Egyptian people and government, then it must make a choice. " For their part, the Muslim Brotherhood, the main opposition movement in the country have affirmed their support for "peaceful uprising blessed" and called for the establishment of "a transitional government without the National Democratic Party, which organizes honest elections and peaceful transfer of power.

" The most influential preacher in the Arab world, Sheikh Youssef Al-Qaradawi, said that only the departure of President Hosni Mubarak could solve the crisis in Egypt. "Will in Mubarak, have pity for these people and clear before the destruction from spreading in Egypt," said the Egyptian-born theologian Qatari television Al-Jazeera in Qatar.

A senior ruling party, Ahmed Ezz, widely seen as a pillar of a corrupt regime, has also resigned from the ruling National Democratic Party, according to state television. Ahmad Ezz, the steel magnate who plays an important role in politics and business in Egypt, was a member of the political secretariat of the NDP and near son of President Hosni Mubarak, Gamal.

On the diplomatic front. The French president, German chancellor and British Prime Minister issued on Saturday a joint statement saying they "deeply concerned by the events in Egypt. "We urge President Mubarak to avoid at all costs the use of violence against unarmed civilians and call on demonstrators to exercise their rights peacefully," said the statement by Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel and David Cameron.

They consider it "essential" the implementation of the "political, economic and social" promised by Mubarak. The three leaders stressed that "human rights and democratic freedoms are fully respected, including freedom of expression and communication, including use of telephone and Internet, and the right of assembly paxcifique and demonstration.

" "We urge President Mubarak to initiate a process of change that is translated through a broader representation in government and free and fair elections," the statement concludes. Obama has also asked the Egyptian president to meet its commitments. He insisted that the U.S. would remain "always a partner of Egypt." The European Union calls for his part in "stopping the violence to stop the bloodshed." King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, said they were supportive of President Mubarak.

In several cities around the world, demonstrations in support of the uprising took place in front of Egyptian embassies of Egypt (see portfolio: From Tunis to Tokyo, solidarity with Egypt) bbc. en

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