Egyptian protesters plan march to Mubarak's doorstep
source: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/31/107814/egyptian-protesters-plan-march.html
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- JanforGore
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In the fight to save his embattled regime from a popular revolt, U.S.-allied president Hosni Mubarak's administration has severed the phone and Internet, rounded up journalists, closed banks and dispatched riot police to beat back protesters.
On Monday the government halted all trains throughout the country to prevent Egyptians in outlying provinces from joining throngs of protesters in Cairo who are planning an audacious march on the presidential compound Tuesday.
As Mubarak resorts to a measure deemed extraordinary even by the standards of Middle East autocrats, demonstrators pledged to keep up their rebellion until the president steps down.
"Each of you here today, bring three more tomorrow!" an activist yelled into a bullhorn in down town Cairo's Tahrir square. "If you love Egypt, you will come!"
Mubarak reshuffled his cabinet Monday, keeping most of the old guard in palace, Omar Suleiman, the former intelligence chief who last week was named Mubarak's first ever vice president, told Egyptians in televised remarks that the government will conduct talks with opposition groups and take immediate steps to address unemployment and other economic concerns. Suleiman didn't mention other key issues such as emergency law, corruption or term limits for the president, who's been in power for 30 years.
The thousands of anti-government protesters in Cairo's Tahrir square immediately shouted down Mubarak's cabinet appointments and focused on drumming up a million-strong crowd to march Tuesday to the presidential compound on the edge of the city.
Such a provocation leaves the Egyptian military in a bind. So far the army has cultivated its image as the protector of the Egyptian people, but blocking such a march would jeopardize its popularity. A senior defense ministry spokesman appeared on TV to reassure Egyptians that the military wouldn't turn against the people, a statement the opposition interpreted as a green light for Tuesday's risky trek to Mubarak's doorstep.
"The military respects the protesters legitimate demands and has not and will not use force against them," Major General Ismail Etman said.
"Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody," he said.
Mubarak's most notable appointment Monday was Mahmoud Wagdi, a retired police general, as the new interior minister. Wagdi replaces Habib el Adle, who's widely detested by Egyptians for the heavy handedness of his security forces. But there were few other new faces; most of the ministers were the same close Mubarak associates, including Defense Minister Field Marshal Hussain Tantawi and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
When the news reached protesters in the square, there was laughter and incredulity. To many in the crowd, the reshuffling of the same men who ruled Egypt for three decades was a sham. The Mubarak era is over, they insisted, adding that they're prepared to force him out if he doesn't go in peace.
cont.
Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/31/107814/egyptian-protesters-plan-march.html...
On Monday the government halted all trains throughout the country to prevent Egyptians in outlying provinces from joining throngs of protesters in Cairo who are planning an audacious march on the presidential compound Tuesday.
As Mubarak resorts to a measure deemed extraordinary even by the standards of Middle East autocrats, demonstrators pledged to keep up their rebellion until the president steps down.
"Each of you here today, bring three more tomorrow!" an activist yelled into a bullhorn in down town Cairo's Tahrir square. "If you love Egypt, you will come!"
Mubarak reshuffled his cabinet Monday, keeping most of the old guard in palace, Omar Suleiman, the former intelligence chief who last week was named Mubarak's first ever vice president, told Egyptians in televised remarks that the government will conduct talks with opposition groups and take immediate steps to address unemployment and other economic concerns. Suleiman didn't mention other key issues such as emergency law, corruption or term limits for the president, who's been in power for 30 years.
The thousands of anti-government protesters in Cairo's Tahrir square immediately shouted down Mubarak's cabinet appointments and focused on drumming up a million-strong crowd to march Tuesday to the presidential compound on the edge of the city.
Such a provocation leaves the Egyptian military in a bind. So far the army has cultivated its image as the protector of the Egyptian people, but blocking such a march would jeopardize its popularity. A senior defense ministry spokesman appeared on TV to reassure Egyptians that the military wouldn't turn against the people, a statement the opposition interpreted as a green light for Tuesday's risky trek to Mubarak's doorstep.
"The military respects the protesters legitimate demands and has not and will not use force against them," Major General Ismail Etman said.
"Your armed forces, who are aware of the legitimacy of your demands and are keen to assume their responsibility in protecting the nation and the citizens, affirms that freedom of expression through peaceful means is guaranteed to everybody," he said.
Mubarak's most notable appointment Monday was Mahmoud Wagdi, a retired police general, as the new interior minister. Wagdi replaces Habib el Adle, who's widely detested by Egyptians for the heavy handedness of his security forces. But there were few other new faces; most of the ministers were the same close Mubarak associates, including Defense Minister Field Marshal Hussain Tantawi and Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
When the news reached protesters in the square, there was laughter and incredulity. To many in the crowd, the reshuffling of the same men who ruled Egypt for three decades was a sham. The Mubarak era is over, they insisted, adding that they're prepared to force him out if he doesn't go in peace.
cont.
Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/31/107814/egyptian-protesters-plan-march.html...
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JanforGore
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If we continue to see the rise in food prices we are now seeing and increasing scarcity of water, we will see more protests like this globally. Rising oil prices surely to come as a result of this will also affect agricultural output and access. We have to wean ourselves off of the fossil fuel tractor if we are to save ourselves. Our global food system is broken and unsustainable.
- 1 year ago
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JanforGore
