Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met Saturday with his cabinet to discuss an emergency plan designed to revive the economy of the country, met 12 days of protests demanding the president's departure. In the midst of a huge political tension, Mubarak met with the chief of the economy in the country in a move aimed at demonstrating the return to normality of the usual tasks of government.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, the Finance, Samir Radwan, the head of Energy and Petroleum, Hassan Younes, Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid, and Central Bank Governor Farouk El Okdah. The Egyptian economy has been virtually paralyzed since the protests began on 25 January, with losses estimated at three thousand 100 million dollars, according to some analysts.
The state news agency MENA said that Mubarak only led the Saturday morning meeting at the presidential palace in Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo, about ten miles from downtown. In Tahrir Square, center of mass gatherings, about 100 thousand protesters continued to present on Saturday and said they will continue their struggle for the resignation of Mubarak.
According to authorities, the banks open tomorrow, Sunday and is expected to stock market do the same on Monday, announced the Finance Minister Samir Radwan, who warned of the critical economic situation. The government is encouraging people to return to work and remains hopeful that things will return to normal in the coming days, while betting that the demonstrations in Tahrir Square, are progressively reduced.
However, diplomatic observers said that the Mubarak regime could be underestimating the opposition movement when in fact it seems that the government has lost control over much of the country, many cities are close to chaos. According to the Qatari Al Jazer news, up to two million protesters gathered in Tahrir Square on Friday in the "Game Day" where they chanted in unison slogans such as "Go, Mubarak" and "Down with Mubarak." Moreover, according to versions of The New York Times, Vice President Omar Suleiman, and senior army officers to negotiate with Mubarak would seek a dignified exit from power.
The octogenarian president, with more than 30 years in power, should not take the route of forced exile, but could withdraw his residence in the resort of Sharm el Sheik. Also, an interim government headed by Suleiman would have leeway to negotiate the transition with the opposition, after the common political front against Mubarak agreed to talks with the vice president but only if the president resigns. 
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, the Finance, Samir Radwan, the head of Energy and Petroleum, Hassan Younes, Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid, and Central Bank Governor Farouk El Okdah. The Egyptian economy has been virtually paralyzed since the protests began on 25 January, with losses estimated at three thousand 100 million dollars, according to some analysts.
The state news agency MENA said that Mubarak only led the Saturday morning meeting at the presidential palace in Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo, about ten miles from downtown. In Tahrir Square, center of mass gatherings, about 100 thousand protesters continued to present on Saturday and said they will continue their struggle for the resignation of Mubarak.
According to authorities, the banks open tomorrow, Sunday and is expected to stock market do the same on Monday, announced the Finance Minister Samir Radwan, who warned of the critical economic situation. The government is encouraging people to return to work and remains hopeful that things will return to normal in the coming days, while betting that the demonstrations in Tahrir Square, are progressively reduced.
However, diplomatic observers said that the Mubarak regime could be underestimating the opposition movement when in fact it seems that the government has lost control over much of the country, many cities are close to chaos. According to the Qatari Al Jazer news, up to two million protesters gathered in Tahrir Square on Friday in the "Game Day" where they chanted in unison slogans such as "Go, Mubarak" and "Down with Mubarak." Moreover, according to versions of The New York Times, Vice President Omar Suleiman, and senior army officers to negotiate with Mubarak would seek a dignified exit from power.
The octogenarian president, with more than 30 years in power, should not take the route of forced exile, but could withdraw his residence in the resort of Sharm el Sheik. Also, an interim government headed by Suleiman would have leeway to negotiate the transition with the opposition, after the common political front against Mubarak agreed to talks with the vice president but only if the president resigns.
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