Unrest in Egypt
Follow Reuters' coverage as a wave of unrest grips Egypt
-
-
-
The anti-government demonstrations began almost two weeks ago with the "Day of Wrath". Check out the major events that have transpired since then.
www.reuters.com -
Couple decides to tie the knot in Tahrir Square with people they now consider family, fellow protesters. www.reuters.com
-
With the passing of every day, the gatherings at Tahrir Square become more and more embedded in nature. The number of makeshift shelters has mushroomed, and it will now be much harder for the authorities to dislodge the protesters without some highly visible destruction of their temporary dwellings.
-
-
State media is reporting that Egyptian authorities have set new curfew hours from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.. The curfew, first imposed on January 28, had been starting at 7 p.m.. www.reuters.com
-
-
-
-
-
Was this the first white house/state dept. mention of "democracy"? I remember a lot of "respect for the aspirations of the people" talk but I am pretty sure I would remember Obama or Clinton using the D word. And odds are Obama has heads up, odds are his pr people would not let him go live on TV with a historic call for democracy an hour before the military takes over for the comming years.
-
Mubarak is "definitely not going to step down," information minister tells Reuters shortly before Mubarak is to speak to the nation www.reuters.com
-
-
-
-
-
More reactions to Mubarak’s speech, compiled by our colleagues on the London World Desk:
Alanoud Al Sharek, a senior fellow in regional politics at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, says “"He doesn't seem to understand the magnitude of what is happening in Egypt. At this point I don't think it will suffice. He still seems to think he is the top patriarch and custodian of the Egyptian people. He doesn't realise that there is a genuine act of resistance taking place. He has performed quite a sleight of hand. He has transferred authority to Omar Suleiman while somehow retaining his position as ruler.”
Mohamed El-Erian, co-chief investment officer at Pacific Investment Management Co., said: "Given the intense disappointment with the speech in Egypt, the country has entered this evening an ominous period of extreme tension and danger that can only be resolved by credible regime change that the majority of Egyptians can buy into"
Bill O’Grady, chief investment strategist at Confluence Investment Management, says: "The younger military really want to see this guy go and they are allied with the protesters. The older military don't want to give up power just yet and want to play a role in the orderly transition of power. This is playing out a lot like the situation with Anwar Sadat.” -
-
-
Our colleagues in Cairo have rounded up some quotes from Egyptians in Cairo's Tahrir Square and on social networking sites after Mubarak told the nation he had handed powers to Vice-President Omar Suleiman, but would not resign.
Mustafa Naggar, leading activist: "The street is fed up with Mubarak. If Mubarak leaves the country he will help to calm the crisis. If he continues, he will lead Egyptians into chaos."
"Plans for tomorrow stand. We will march in the millions to Tahrir Square and other locations."
Antoini Abu Sayed, 50, a university professor: "This would have been enough before the intifada (uprising), but not now. The people will continue to demonstrate. Most of us present will continue."
Ismail Zakaria, 45, a teacher: "The speech was unprecedented in its stubbornness and foolishness. Tomorrow I am heading to the palace in protest. Until Mubarak falls. There is no turning back."
Sameh Ali, 29, an activist: "Giving Suleiman presidential powers means nothing to protesters. The protesters' calls have fallen on deaf ears. And we will escalate our protests tomorrow, until victory".
Ahmed Aly, a businessman not protesting in Tahrir: "The speech was very emotional and decent. The president did what the youth requested, he left power but in a decent way that preserves his dignity and that of the Egyptian people ... All that has happened are great achievements that we would have never been able to achieve without the revolution led by the youth on Jan. 25." -
-
this is not so much a revolution as an evolution of a people, who seek not to seize power but embody the power of their need for freedom and change. Revolutions have a life of their own which often implodes and strangles the heart of the cause. keep heart and keep sight of the freedom you desire people of Tahrir square -
-
-
President Mubarak once again spurned protesters’ demands that he quit office immediately. Check out our timeline of Mubarak’s 30 years in power: www.reuters.com
-
-
-
More expert reaction to Mubarak’s speech, compiled by our world desk in London:
Stephen Grand, Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution in Washington:
“It was quite surreal. He's a stubborn old man who refused to see the writing on the wall. I happen to believe the demonstrations will continue, people will continue to push for his ouster and eventually will succeed.”
Robert Springborg, professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School:
“The speeches tonight are not intended to bring an end to the crisis in a peaceful way but to inflame the situation so there is justification for the imposition of direct military rule. They are risking not only the coherence of the military but even indeed, and I use this term with advisement here, civil war."
“I think it needs to be made perfectly clear (by outside powers) that Mubarak and his regime are forfeiting Egypt's future. Egypt is in an economic crisis. It is going to have to be bailed out and the short answer to what they are doing now is that it will not be bailed out with anything like a military regime in place that is associated with Mubarak, Omar Suleiman and these people who are part of this regime.”
Anthony Cordesman, Center for Strategic and International Studies:
“The truth is that even the senior military now at the top of the power structure under Mubarak almost certainly have no clear idea of what happens next, and it will be days before anyone know how well the transition will function, who goes and who stays, and how stable the result really is.”
“It is also important to understand that democracy is less important to most Egyptians than material benefits, jobs, decent education, effective government services, ending corruption and favouritism, and emphasizing the concept of justice in ways that provide security and honest police and courts. People aren't looking for a vote as much as they want to stop the economic, political and social injustice.” -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
New comments from Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague on BBC TV: “We are studying very closely what the president and vice president of Egypt have said. It is not immediately clear what powers are being handed over and what the full implications are. We think the solution to this has to be owned by the Egyptian people themselves. All we want in the United Kingdom is for them to be able to settle their own differences in a peaceful and democratic way. And that is why we have called from the beginning of this crisis for an urgent but orderly transition to a more broadly based government in Egypt, and in the meantime we look to the Egyptian authorities to protect the right to peaceful protest.”
-
-
-
Read highlights from Mubarak’s speech to the nation on Thursday evening: www.reuters.com Translations by Samia Nakhoul and Dina Zayed.
-
Louis Charbonneau, our colleague at the United Nations, has more on opposition leader ElBaradei’s reaction to the latest developments in Egypt:
“ElBaradei, interviewed from Egypt by CNN, said: ‘People are very angry.’ He added that it was up to the army to ‘save the country from going down the drain.’
‘We should be quite worried,’ he said. ‘They (Mubarak and Vice President Omar Suleiman) need to step aside. People have lost confidence in them.’ Mubarak earlier announced that he was delegating powers to Suleiman.
ElBaradei said Mubarak had lost all legitimacy.
Referring to Mubarak's passing of his powers to the vice president, ElBaradei said: ‘How can you be a president without any power?’” -
-
-
India to give homegrown vaccine in seven more states this week
NEW DELHI India said it will administer homegrown coronavirus vaccine COVAXIN in seven more states from Monday as it seeks to inoculate 30 million healthcare workers across the country.