Egypt police arrest 860 protesters as anti-government riots escalate
Tens of thousands of Egyptians turn out for largest protests country has seen in years, inspired by Tunisia uprising; Facebook, Twitter, and cellphones appear to be partially blocked.
By The Associated Press Tags: Israel news EgyptEgyptian security officials reported Wednesday that a total of 860 protesters have been arrested since anti-government protests broke out Tuesday.
Tens of thousands of Egyptians have turned out for the largest demonstrations Egypt has seen in years, inspired by the recent uprising in Tunisia. They demanded President Hosni Mubarak's ouster and a solution to grinding poverty, rising prices and high unemployment.
Egyptian anti-government activists continued to clash with police for a second day Wednesday in defiance of an official ban on any protests. Beefed up police forces on the streets quickly moved in and used tear gas and beatings to disperse any demonstrations.
After nightfall Wednesday, more than 2,000 demonstrators were marching on a major downtown boulevard along the Nile when dozens of riot police with helmets and shields charged the crowd. It was a scene repeated throughout the day wherever demonstrators tried to gather.
They were the latest in outbursts of political discontent in Egypt that have been growing more frequent and more intense over the past year. Protests have erupted sporadically over police brutality, poverty and food prices, government corruption and mismanagement, and more recently sectarian strife between Christians and Muslims. Parliamentary elections in November were widely decried as fraudulent.
Many in Egypt see these events as signs of the authoritarian president's vulnerability in an election year. There is speculation that 82-year-old Mubarak, who has been in power for nearly 30 years and recently experienced serious health problems, may be setting his son Gamal up for hereditary succession.
But there is considerable public opposition and, according to leaked U.S. diplomatic memos, it does not meet with the approval of the powerful military. And the regime's tight hold on power has made it virtually impossible for any serious alternative to Mubarak to emerge.
The crackdown by authorities brought harsh words from European leaders, who expressed concern and said the events underline the need for democratization and respect for human and civil rights.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton did not criticize Egypt's government - a key U.S. ally in the Middle East - but only said the country was stable and Egyptians have the right to protest while urging all parties to avoid violence.
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Protesters with signs demonstrate in downtown Cairo January 25, 2011. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Activists used social networking sites to call for fresh demonstrations Wednesday. But Facebook, a key tool used to organize protests, appeared to be at least partially blocked in the afternoon. On Tuesday, Twitter and cellphones appeared to be sporadically blocked as well.
The Interior Ministry warned Wednesday that police would not tolerate any gatherings, and thousands were out on the streets poised to crack down quickly on any new signs of unrest after clashes on Tuesday that killed three demonstrators and one police officer.
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An anti-government protester ripping a poster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, January 26, 2011. |
| Photo by: AP |
Early Wednesday, thousands of policemen in riot gear and backed by armored vehicles took up posts in Cairo on bridges across the Nile, at major intersections and squares as well as outside key installations such as the state TV building and the headquarters of Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party.
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Now there is news that the U.S. wants to jumpstart peace talks through Jordan. Such a clumsy and poorly thought out response forces a person to wonder exactly what kind of retarded imbeciles are running things in Washington and Tel Aviv.
it is no longer easy to just claim that some dictator hates Israel. It is the whole Middle East that now has to be in Israel's focus. Will Israel react? I have my doubts. Especially after Palestinian papers showed what Pals are ready to do.
(-;
Isn't it wonderful. democracy in Egypt. But what does the average Egyptian want? Fortunatley we have the Pew Research Center Poll. According to this, 82% favours stoning people who commit adultery. 77% favours whippings/cutting off of hands for theft or robbery. 84% favours the death penalty for people who leave the Muslim religion. Yes Egyptian democracy will be a great sight to see. That is if your eyes are not gouged out as part of a sharia punishment.
It is time for Egyptians to live in Democracy.
You dreaming no Islamic country in the middle east other than Israel has and can have a democratic goverment . What wonderful democratic countries we have Iran,Iraq,Syria,Lebanon, Jordan ,Saudia Arabia the list is endless.
And the silence from the "champion of freedom and democracy" is deafening. Someone should please get Mubarak's plane ready for Saudi Arabia.GAME OVER!!!!
he can probably play dominos with Ali Baba Ben ali. between thieves, I wonder if they cheat....in the country of charia law, they might not be able to play as they would normally loose their fingers. but i guess the law does not apply for those angels. i don't care much about muby but if they could send ben ali back to my tunisians friends (with all his fingers) that woudl be nice. we prefer prosecution and jail for this h'mar on this side of the planet. also Ms Leila'return would be appreciated. teh husband is a puppet. the Godmother of the cosa nostra is his lovely spouse.
People in the ME and north Afrika are fed up of poverty and dictatorship, we can only hope that the moderates take over power and not Islamic extremists. Once again, the West made a big mistake for supporting radical leaders, in order to keep their influence in the region.The philosophy is allways the same....He is a son of a bitch, but OUR son of a bitch.
If the Jordanian government falls its not too scarry because Israel did not have to give up security for peace... But if mubarak gets replaced with the Muslim brotherhood... then this is really scarry... I wonder if the 30 years of peace was worth it...
Rioting for Bread = Islamic revolution to you? If so, what do you consider marches against Jewish girls dating Arabs?
that the muslim brotherhood would take over... And the first thing that the MB said it would do it cancel the peace treaty with Israel...
Arab street shows hostility to Israel. You wish you could get away from the facts but you can't.
Three words: Road map, Oslo...
So strange and difficult to understand here in the west if the citizens are unhappy with the performence of their goverment then they democratly vote them out at elections. However in the Islamic and third world countries you take to the streets like holigans cause chaos and unessasary deaths. We world apart.
Need I remind you the Americans had to fight you Brits for independence and your tyranny. The American people supported the Iranian students and we also support the Egyptian people. We love seeing people fight for freedom. Tugs at our heart strings.
I'm sure they will remind you of an important date : 11 september (not 2001... 1973).
Hey American hello it's the 21st centuary what was was.......look what's going on in my country ..........chaos
The west would be condemning the government and its brutality against the people. Heroic sense from the streets will be shown all over American and European TVs. Calls for the resignation of the government, and calls for UN actions will be in order. But... this is not Iran, which means freedom and liberty is not as important to the West. As long as they have dictator in place that does what they ask for, then screw the people.
We're so fed up of you Mobarak. You and your son will be deported soon. We're so fed up of your corruption, bribery and inequality.... for 30 years you've been a president and Egypt has only been getting behind since...
The Islamists in the street are not protesting at the Mubarak regime. Arabs love authoritarian rulers. They are opposed to Egypt's friendship with the Jewish people. If the Islamists take over, you can bet your house that Iranian nukes will be setup right besides the Jewish Nation's borders.
If I were you, I'd check my gaskets... maybe Hamas wants to plant things in there... Maybe Hezbollah is building a tunnel right under you doorstep too... But before doing all those things, seek medical help... Your paranoia may be a danger to your own person.
It's not all about Israel, Cipora. You're just afraid that by Egyptians finally getting democracy, they might actually better themselves and break themselves from the the US policies of enslavement of the Arab people. Once they're free, you're worried they might actually challenge all the wrongs Israel has done to the Arab masses. Too bad my friend. Tyranny never lasts forever.
You are talking about the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt which has nothing to do with this event. This demonstration was inspired by the recent uprising in Tunisia caused by extreme poverty, rising prices and high unemployment. When it comes to poverty and starvation people will stand side by side whether they are Muslim, Christians or Jews and fight the corrupted system and ensure food, shelter and education for their children. That’s is precisely why this demonstration is way more powerful than any other such as protesting against the Israeli policy towards Palestinians or the Muslim Brotherhood take over because people are united for one basic logical reason. Cipora, what you are saying is extremely disturbing and implies that it’s fine for the Egyptian people to stay like that because simply “Arabs love authoritarian rulers” and “Islamist might take over” and “Iran will have a nuclear base in Egypt”!!! Based on assumptions you are justifying the oppression in Egypt.