Fourth day of mass riots across Egypt; top reformer put under house arrest
Army enters city streets and night curfew implemented after protestors break through police lines, called for ousting of President Mubarak.
By News AgenciesEgyptian security officials say police have put pro-democracy leader Mohamed ElBaradei under house arrest. Police stationed outside his suburban Cairo home told him he cannot leave the house after he joined tens of thousands of protesters in the capital Friday.
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A protester holds an Egyptian flag as he stands in front of water canons during clashes in Cairo, January 28, 2011. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Earlier on Friday, Police used water cannons against ElBaradei and his supporters as they joined the latest wave of anti-government protests after Friday noon prayers.
Egypt is witnessing its fourth day of riots and unrest as angry protesters take to the streets calling for the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled the country for nearly 30 years.
At least five have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces so far, and some news agencies are reporting that one protester has thus far been killed in Friday's clashes.
Poice used batons to beat some of ElBaradei's supporters, who surrounded him to protect him.
A soaking wet ElBaradei was trapped inside a mosque while hundreds of riot police laid siege to it, firing tear gas in the streets around so no one could leave. Tear gas canisters set several cars ablaze outside the mosque and several people fainted and suffered burns.
Groups of thousands of protesters, some chanting "Out! Out! Out!" gathered in at least six venues in Cairo, a city of about 18 million people. Many marched toward major squares and across Nile bridges, setting off clashes with police. Security officials said there were protests in at least 11 of the country's 28 provinces.
Security officials said protesters ransacked the headquarters of Mubarak's ruling party in the cities of Mansoura north of Cairo and Suez, east of the capital.
Earlier in the week, a call for a big protest on Friday gathered 24,000 Facebook supporters within hours of being posted.
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An Egyptian man walking past anti-riot policemen over a bridge in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. |
| Photo by: AP |
Internet and cell phone services were cut off early Friday in Cairo and remained down in an extreme but inadequate attempt to stop protesters organizing. Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry Messenger also saw interruptions.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticized the government for taking down the country's communication networks and internet service ahead of the planned protests.
"One of the ground principles of democracy is to protect freedom of speech," Ban said, while speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "Freedom of expression should be fully respected."
On Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama said violence was not the answer in the Egypt. The White House has expressed that they are not taking sides in the country's unrest.
Mubarak has not been seen publicly or heard from since the protests began Tuesday. He and his government have shown no hint of concessions to the protesters who want political reform and a solution to rampant poverty, unemployment and rising food prices.
The protests in Egypt follow the overthrow two weeks ago of another long-serving Arab strongman, Tunisian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, in a popular revolt.
Analysts said the U.S. probably wants to avoid adding to political uncertainty by abandoning Mubarak. Egypt's peaceful relationship with Israel is a bulwark of stability in the unsettled region.
A presidential election is due in September. Egyptians assume that the 82-year-old Mubarak plans either to remain in control or hand power to his son Gamal, 47. Father and son both deny that Gamal is being groomed for the job.
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lost: turkey, lebanon. pending: egypt. this is what happens when you don't support your allies and try to 'engage' your enemies,
The Telecom cut off, the Internet unplugged, the social media shut down..., Youtube, Facebook, ...journalists arrested, curfew imposed in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez, the police&army in the streets shooting bullets, water canons and tear gases against the protesters, intellectuals and writers in prison for having opposed the regime in a peaceful way, opponents in house arrest..... But for that lack of free speech and freedom, the violence we're seeing now in the streets wouldn't have occurred in the first place for sure. Where is the free speech, the people's right to be heard, and the freedom in Egypt...?
Mr Elbaradei wanted to be president of Egypt, the reason why he organized this protest against the present president Mubarak government as he could not wait for the election in september; democracy is just used to justify his personal goal in the international scene!
It's over.. You shouldn't have been so delusional! Next, open borders with Gaza!
It shows US does not respect Human Rights and democracy, Mubarak is a brutal dictator that tortures those who dare to speak up. If as they claim here in the US that they will not be silent when the powerless are oppressed then Obama has to speak up. The USA spoke very loud when the Iranian People took to the streets agains Democratically elected government.
If the people are crying for food and water, these countries will have to reduce food prices, and can't tell them if they are hungry for bread, to go eat cake.
Just a week ago El Baradei was the Evil Protector of Iran and today he is a Top Reformer. I guess it doesn't matter what you are or do, all that matters is how useful you are at the moment.
Whatever happened to Mubarak winning elections by 99.99% of the votes. Whoopse daisy. 30 years of dictatorship is far too long. Let the Egyptian breath freedom and enjoy the sweet smell of true democracy.
!-Cancellig Camp David Agreement 2-remove the Nato trrops off Sanai,3- removing Mubarak and his goones 4- open Gaza strip to the outside world. poor Israel, their southern sand bag is about to be destroyed
Get rid of this tyrant, US puppet, Israel puppet and let the people of Egypt have their country back.
Do whatever you like to do..house arrest or jailed or kill..we will not stop...we will resist until we kick you out of Egypt...will show you what is the power of people.
The Arab world has been ruled for too long by dictators that oppress their people and cater to foreign powers. The Arab world will never be the same after the Tunisian Revolution and the winds of change will sweep through all the Middle East and North Africa. The American double standard in the Middle East largely caused the discontent of the Arab People with their collusive dictators. Arabs have been humiliated for too long from within and from without. Freedom is on the march in those countries and the dictators will have no where to run.
Mohamed ElBaradei openly suportes the Muslim Brotherhood . What a wonderful bunch of friend . ElBaradei,Kifaya,Moslim Brotherhood and the greatest of all Iran his friend . We are all judged by the company we keep. The poor man who has taken to the street has no idea what he is going to inherit. TROUBLE.
The USA has been a willing accomplice in the oppression in the Arab world. the bullets, gas canisters, batons, armored vehicles (as aid) are best example. so any one in the USA administration, please stay off this band wagged. you are not welcomed. you've been speaking from both sides of your mouth.
WILL OF THE PEOPLE? NEVER AGAIN SAY THAT cos if you EVER AGAIN tell THAT WE MÚST THEN RETREAT our troops BECAUSE OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. Don't think that what happened last night will stay without serious consequences. And that has nothing 2 do with being PRO or AGAINST going to Afghanistan. Cos that isn't the BIG issue: the ISSUE is that in order to help NATO and MOST OF ALL prevent NATO to collapse [{INTERNALLY}] due to NATO members not wanting to cooperate - with US - we had 2 DISOBEY the will of the people and OFCOURSE we expect NATO members to be doing JUST THE SAME WE had 2 do OVERNIGHT.
NETANYAHU: Blame it all on somebody else, like the EU. They could have taken many more Egyptians as migrant workers, but they just hate Muslims. YAALON (a political idiot): I agree, in principle, but Mubarak should blame it on Iran. They are the source of all trouble and can be accused of fomenting the unrest. BARAK: Mubarak, you will have to exercise force, power in the street. But you are strong enough according to my assessment to overcome the demonstrators. LIEBERMAM: Don't worry about the Egyptians' love towards you. They should fear you, not love you. Just hang a few demonstrators in the public square and quiet will be restored. BEGIN (honest, but a political idiot): I am my father's son and have a natural right to his legacy. Your son has a right to be president. Just announce that Gamal will be running in the coming elections. MERIDOR: My father was also a senior MK, but times are changing. Get your daughter to be the next president. This will bring worldwide acclaim, especially from Hillary, and the Egyptian people will be impressed. YISHAI: Rabbi Ovadia is your friend, so all you need to do is ask for his blessing and you will rule for ever and ever, Amen.
Israel must be extremely worried.
but it does have the immediate effect of focusing the world media's attention on what they did to a generally well-respected and internationally-known figure--and I'm not sure that is, in the long run--"logical."
1989... Had we told people in 1985 that the Communist regimes of Europe only had 4 years left to live, and they would have laughed. The Arab spring is sending perfume of Jasmin all over the region, and Mubarak is stuck smelling it before going down. Reserve your tickets for Saudi Arabia Hosni. For you saw how those who hand you in paychecks treat you when you are overthrown... just ask Ben Ali...
Needed another Palace in Saudi Arabia