Egypt anti-government protests grow

[Dan U]

Dylans either one of us is not watching the channel we think we are or the two correspondents are next to each other!

Eta - yes I think we did.

 

[Crispy]

I have the BBC news in my bookmarks, but can't remember the last time I went there to actually find out about something. Useless.

Twitter is a revelation during things like this.

 

[Dan U]

I have to say the Sky bloke on the ground is pretty good

 

[dylans]

Dylans either one of us is not watching the channel we think we are or the two correspondents are next to each other!

No u are right dan. It's sky (on in the background)

 

[dylans]

I have the BBC news in my bookmarks, but can't remember the last time I went there to actually find out about something. Useless.

Twitter is a revelation during things like this.

Twitter is a lifeline in times like these. On my laptop I have al Jazeera.The guardian. twitter and this site

 

[Random]

Sweden's foreign minister saying that the September presidential election should be the way for political change. Before these protests, who would have been standing?

 

[treelover]

its noticeable the conscript security forces haven't even been gives gas masks, why do they still defend the regime?

 

[dylans]

its noticeable the conscript security forces haven't even been gives gas masks, why do they still defend the regime?

Fear

 

[Kaka Tim]

Yes - the sky news coverage is much better.

Their reporter describes it as loads of differnt demos all accross the centre of Cario with the cops trying to prevent them joining up.

'Their have been riots and protests before over things like the price of bread - but this is different..... the regime will be shaken by this'

BTWE - Is Saturday a normal working day in Egypt? Or is their the potentail for even bigger protests?

 

[butchersapron]

Sweden's foreign minister saying that the September presidential election should be the way for political change. Before these protests, who would have been standing?

Murbarak used to allow one paper opposition candidate to get through the ridiculous restrictions on becoming a presidential candidate - this time he was expected to not even bother with the fig leaf.

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Latest from Al Jaz - Protestors control the streets of Suez - 3 armored vehicles set alight.

 

[Dan U]

Murbarak used to allow one paper opposition candidate to get through the ridiculous restrictions on becoming a presidential candidate - this time he was expected to not even bother with the fig leaf.

His son was going to stand next time wasnt he?

 

[treelover]

'The police are in control of the central square in Suez says al-Jazeera. There is no police presence. Jamal Elshayyal, their reporter in Suez, says:

The police has been quite comprehensively defeated by the power of the people.'


From the Guardian, i presume the twitterer means, the people,

 

[butchersapron]

His son was going to stand next time wasnt he?

He was certainly being groomed to run at some point - possibly but not definitely this time.

 

[Mr.Bishie]

CF saying - Reports that riot police have disappeared off the streets of Suez after being overwhelmed by scale of protesters.

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Police has been defeated in Arbaeen Square, Suez.

Central Cairo bridges largely cleared after huge amounts of tear gas. Demonstrators regrouping in backstreets.

 

[74drew]

BBC claiming that all mobile phone operators have been ordered to cut services in certain areas. Vodaphone being helpful

"All mobile operators in Egypt have been instructed to suspend services in selected areas. Under Egyptian legislation the authorities have the right to issue such an order and we are obliged to comply with it."

 

[Libertad]

And now we wait for the appearance of the Egyptian Army. Some units of which are fearsome.

 

[Dan U]

And now we wait for the appearance of the Egyptian Army. Some units of which are fearsome.

They are watching and waiting to see how this plays out according to the sky correspondent. They don't like Mubarak and want him out but they don't want an Islamist in power either.

Just one view obviously but they are notably absent thus far

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Reuters: Protesters break into Alexandria province HQ.

 

[Dan U]

Suez footage is full on

 

[Streathamite]

1.dead.in.suez

 

[dylans]

They are watching and waiting to see how this plays out according to the sky correspondent. They don't like Mubarak and want him out but they don't want an Islamist in power either.

Just one view obviously but they are notably absent thus far

Islamists are a bogeyman used by Mubarak to justify his dictatorship. The Muslim Brotherhood are not as popular as is made out and have been tainted by reformist and conciliatory politics. They took part in the 2005 elections which were widely boycotted by Egyptians and they only recieved 20% of the vote. (In an election where 80% boycotted. They are the largest opposition party but that doesn't amount to much in a country that has no real opposition movement. If they are so popular why didn't Egyptians vote for them?

There is a problem of lack of leadership in this movement. A fatal weakness and a vacuum that can allow for the revolution to be stolen. There is a desperate need for a secular workers party that can fight for the economic needs of the Egyptian poor.

 

[74drew]

So if ElBaradei is under house arrest and the MB leaders are being rounded up how is this going to pan out in the coming weeks? Who is Mubarak/cronies going to talk to? If anyone.. What role are the unions playing in all this?

 

[dylans]

So if ElBaradei is under house arrest and the MB leaders are being rounded up how is this going to pan out in the coming weeks? Who is Mubarak/cronies going to talk to? If anyone..

I see it going two ways. By locking Baradei up, the Egyptian regime is saying no change, nothing. Only repression if you don't like it. This is Mubaraks view, that he can survive this by repression alone. Maybe he is right.
Baradei represents the last hope for a masquerade of change while saving the regime. I think Mubarak intends to defeat this movement, cut off its head. Then organise elections in 6 months in which Baradei, in house arrest and heroic, will stand as Egypts saviour. The west will wink at the result. He will declare victory and its business as normal minus Mubarak

 

[74drew]

Baradei, in house arrest and heroic, will stand as Egypts saviour. The west will wink at the result. He will declare victory and its business as normal minus Mubarak

Agreed. 'Passive revolution', change from above like that currently being attempted in Tunisia

 

[peterkro]

Army is on streets,which side don't know hopefully positive.

 

[Louis MacNeice]

Protesters welcoming army on AJ?

Louis MacNeice

 

[quimcunx]

army shaking hands with protesters....

then backing up. then protesters seen punching the air in celebratory way.

Is it a one-off or happening elsewhere too???

 

[dylans]

Agreed. 'Passive revolution', change from above like that currently being attempted in Tunisia

That's the plan. I mean who the fuck is Baradei anyway? Some UN bureacrat who was living in Vienna until yesterday. He turns up and is hailed by the press as the saviour of Egypt. By all accounts he has no mandate or significant support in the population. But he is a face the West can use to replace Mubarak.

This is all very well but this scenerio doesn't take account of Mubaraks ruthless refusal to give an inch or the Egyptian masses refusal to be fobbed off with an imposed leader.