Unrest in Egypt
Follow Reuters' coverage as a wave of unrest grips Egypt
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It’s now after 6 p.m. in Egypt and pro- and anti-Mubarak groups continue to skirmish in central Cairo. Here are some details from our reporters on the ground covering the events:
A literal stone's throw from the Egyptian Museum, home to 7,000 years of civilization in the most populous Arab state, angry men skirmished back and forth with rocks, clubs and makeshift shields, as the U.S.-built tanks of Mubarak's Western-funded army made sporadic efforts to separate them.
Protestors have lined up small rocks to fight off attacks by pro-Mubarak groups. "We are using these stones as a means of defence. Yesterday they attacked us with molotov cocktails (petrol bombs) and all we have to protect ourselves with is stones," protestor Ali Kassem told Reuters.
A Reuters journalist saw protesters overpower someone they said was an undercover member of the security services. Over a loudspeaker a voice urged: "Don't beat him. Hand him to us and the organising committee and we will hand him over to the army. The international media is watching us and saying we are peaceful people."
As he tended to some of those on the square, doctor Mohamed al-Samadi voiced anger: "They let armed thugs come and attack us. We refuse to go. We can't let Mubarak stay eight months."
Protesters, who numbered some 10,000 on Tahrir Square on Thursday afternoon, have called major demonstrations for Friday. Many formed human chains across roads to seal off the square.
Read our full wrap-up for more details www.reuters.com -
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As commenter fizo noted below, protests are also happening now in Egypt’s second largest city of Alexandria. According to our reporters there, thousands are protesting with anti-Mubarak banners, one reading: “In all languages of the world, we tell you: go out, Mubarak.” And in northeastern Egypt, around 4,000 people marched in Suez calling for Mubarak to step down, while in Ismalia a crowd of 2,000 are holding similar demonstrations.
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But as protesters vow to go on in Cairo, Reuters corresondents Sherine El Madany and Shaimaa Fayed report that some Cairenes are desperate for a return to normalcy. "I can't work any more. Last night, one of my patients was in labor, and I couldn't reach her at all. For how long will this go on?" said Ahmed Naguib, a 48-year-old doctor.
Teacher Amira Hassan, 55, said "I can't carry on with my ordinary life. I can't even go to my dentist because his clinic is downtown. I want this to end so that I can go to work. It makes no difference to me now whether Mubarak stays or leaves. I just want to see security back on the streets so that I can go on with my life." Read more www.reuters.com -
In a new address, Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman says the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s most organized opposition movement, has been invited to meet with then new government as part of a national dialogue with all parties. Here’s our primer on the Muslim Brotherhood www.reuters.com
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Corrected: Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman tells State TV that President Mubarak will not put himself forward for the presidency again. He did not say that he himself will not run, as our earlier report stated. He also said about 1 million tourists have left Egypt in the last nine days.
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@ Utah Thanks for your comment. Just to clarify, our earlier comment did not specify a day. We'll clarify that as we get more information. In the meantime, read the full story here www.reuters.com
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Amid the violence, dozens of foreign journalists, covering the developments on the ground, have been arrested alongside human rights workers.
"Those detained were believed to include Washington Post Cairo bureau chief Leila Fadel and Post photographer Linda Davidson. The New York Times said two of its reporters were held overnight but had been released, and Al Jazeera said three of its journalists were detained and a fourth was missing." The Post outlines here www.washingtonpost.com -
And this is what the White House had to say about Egypt targeting journalists www.reuters.com
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Our correspondent Marwa Awad gathers some reactions to the broadcast interview by Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman earlier today.
Mohamed Anis, 29, protesting in Tahrir Square:
“How simple minded and illogical. Suleiman has not listened to the people's needs. We want Mubarak to leave immediately, not to stick around for another six months. We have refused dialogue and negotiation with Suleiman until Mubarak steps down.”
Diaa Rashwan, a political analyst at Al Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies:
“Suleiman made some positive moves, mainly his acceptance to hold dialogue with all opposition forces and specifically the Muslim Brotherhood. This is the first time in about 30 years that the Mubarak regime has sought dialogue with the Muslim Brotherhood. Suleiman makes the process of political reform conditional on the outcome of the dialogue with the opposition.”
Mohamed Katani, a senior Muslim Brotherhood member:
“There was nothing new in the interview. There is no clear cut agenda presented upon which we can hold a dialogue. The issue is serious and needs clarity. I do not think the protesters will agree to leave Tahrir and quit their sit-in according to Suleiman's request. The only way Egyptians will accept to hold dialogue with Suleiman is after Mubarak's departure ... when he steps down.” -
What does Mubarak propose as a solution to punishing the agent provocateurs he hired? What major parallels can be seen compared with other revolutions, namely Iran? So far as I can tell, it seems to be almost mandated that under a dictator any middle eastern unrest is first quelled by removing the ability to communicate, then supress news agencies, followed by agent provocateurs to beat down civilians. Compared to Iran, is the US strategy in Egypt as equally identical?
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Time is now 6:06am in Egypt. Check out the latest wrapup of Reuters' Egypt coverage: www.reuters.com -
From the U.S. State Department's Twitter account: There will be no USG evacuation flights from #Egypt on Feb 4. We plan to continue evacuation efforts on Feb 5. go.usa.gov
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The Obama administration is discussing the immediate resignation of President Hosni Mubarak with Egyptian officials www.reuters.com
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Protesters in Cairo are preparing to stage a "Day of Departure" for President Mubarak. www.bbc.co.uk
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Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman tells ABC news that "Egypt will not be anything like Tunisia" abcnews.go.com
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Here's a graphic from the BBC showing the key sites in the Cairo demonstrations www.bbc.co.uk
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Have a look at our most recent collection of pictures from the Egypt protests www.reuters.com
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A day-by-day interactive map of the protests from the New York Times www.nytimes.com
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CNN reports that demonstrators have built a barbed-wire barricade and stacked piles of rocks throughout Cairo's Tahrir Square. www.cnn.com
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Here is an analysis from Reuters on why independence is key for autocrats who want to hang on to power www.reuters.com
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CNN is reporting that protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square are chanting "We've been here for more than 10 days, and change is coming." www.cnn.com
Hong Kong gears up for fresh protests as activists target airport
HONG KONG Hong Kong is bracing for further anti-government demonstrations and a "stress test" of the city's international airport this weekend, as authorities warn against acts that could disrupt travel operations.
