Egyptian protesters call for Mubarak to resign
Source: Agencies |
January 30, 2011, Sunday
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Saying Egypt's president must go, thousands defied the government's curfew and filled the streets and squares of downtown Cairo yesterday in a resounding rejection of the longtime leader's attempt to hang onto power with promises of reform and a new government.
Tanks and armored personnel carriers fanned out across the city of 18 million, guarding key government buildings. But the curfew was largely ignored - by the looters who ran rampant, by protesters, and apparently by soldiers under orders to enforce it. Police opened fire on the demonstrators around the area of Tahrir Square after thousands tried to storm the Interior Ministry. At least three were killed and their bodies were carried through the crowd of protesters.
The death toll since the largest anti-government protests in decades began on Tuesday rose to 48, according to medical and security officials and witnesses at the demonstration. Of those, 41 have been killed since Friday. Some 2,000 injuries have been reported.
In the Tahrir Square there was only a light military presence - a few tanks. Few police were seen in the crowds and the protest began peacefully. Then police opened fire on some in the crowd near the Interior Ministry and a number of the demonstrators were wounded by gunshots.
The demonstrators were not satisfied with Mubarak's actions to address the discontent. The president of 30 years fired his Cabinet late Friday night and promised reforms, which many doubt he will deliver.
"What we want is for Mubarak to leave, not just his government," said Mohammed Mahmoud, a demonstrator in Tahrir Square. "We will not stop ... until he goes."
Mubarak, confronted with the most dire threat to his three decades of rule, faced his nation for the first time since the unrest began. In a televised address at midnight on Friday, he made vague promises of social reform in what is likely to be interpreted as an attempt to cling to power rather than a genuine pledge to solve Egypt's pressing problems.
He also defended his security forces and accused the protesters of plotting to destabilize Egypt and destroy the legitimacy of his regime, outraging those still in the streets well into the night.
"We want Mubarak to go and instead he is digging in further," protester Kamal Mohammad said. "He thinks it is calming down the situation but he is just angering people more."
Zahi Hawass, Egypt's top archeologist, meanwhile, said he was "seriously concerned" about the safety of the famed Egyptian Museum. Neighboring buildings were gutted by fires on Friday.
Tanks and armored personnel carriers fanned out across the city of 18 million, guarding key government buildings. But the curfew was largely ignored - by the looters who ran rampant, by protesters, and apparently by soldiers under orders to enforce it. Police opened fire on the demonstrators around the area of Tahrir Square after thousands tried to storm the Interior Ministry. At least three were killed and their bodies were carried through the crowd of protesters.
The death toll since the largest anti-government protests in decades began on Tuesday rose to 48, according to medical and security officials and witnesses at the demonstration. Of those, 41 have been killed since Friday. Some 2,000 injuries have been reported.
In the Tahrir Square there was only a light military presence - a few tanks. Few police were seen in the crowds and the protest began peacefully. Then police opened fire on some in the crowd near the Interior Ministry and a number of the demonstrators were wounded by gunshots.
The demonstrators were not satisfied with Mubarak's actions to address the discontent. The president of 30 years fired his Cabinet late Friday night and promised reforms, which many doubt he will deliver.
"What we want is for Mubarak to leave, not just his government," said Mohammed Mahmoud, a demonstrator in Tahrir Square. "We will not stop ... until he goes."
Mubarak, confronted with the most dire threat to his three decades of rule, faced his nation for the first time since the unrest began. In a televised address at midnight on Friday, he made vague promises of social reform in what is likely to be interpreted as an attempt to cling to power rather than a genuine pledge to solve Egypt's pressing problems.
He also defended his security forces and accused the protesters of plotting to destabilize Egypt and destroy the legitimacy of his regime, outraging those still in the streets well into the night.
"We want Mubarak to go and instead he is digging in further," protester Kamal Mohammad said. "He thinks it is calming down the situation but he is just angering people more."
Zahi Hawass, Egypt's top archeologist, meanwhile, said he was "seriously concerned" about the safety of the famed Egyptian Museum. Neighboring buildings were gutted by fires on Friday.
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