Jets swoop over Cairo in military show of force
Source: Agencies |
January 31, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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Fighter jets swooped low over Cairo yesterday in what appeared to be an attempt by the military to show its control of an Egyptian capital beset by looting, armed robbery and anti-government protests.
Minutes before the start of a 4pm curfew, at least two jets made multiple passes over the downtown area, including a central square where thousands of protesters were calling for the departure of President Hosni Mubarak.
Police could be seen returning to some streets nearly two days after virtually disappearing, creating a security vacuum only partially filled by the presence of army troops backed by tanks at key sites around the city of 18 million people.
After days of escalating chaos, gangs of armed men attacked at least four jails across Egypt before dawn, helping to free hundreds of Muslim militants and thousands of other inmates. Gangs of young men with guns and large sticks smashed cars and robbed people in Cairo.
Banks were closed on orders from Egypt's Central Bank, and the stock market was shut on what is normally the first day of the trading week.
An unprecedented Internet cutoff remained in place after the country's four primary providers stopped moving data in and out of the country in an apparent move by authorities to disrupt the organization of demonstrations blaming Mubarak's regime for poverty, unemployment, corruption and police brutality.
The official death toll from the growing crisis stood at 74, with thousands injured.
After a night of violence in many cities across Egypt, the army sent hundreds more troops and armored vehicles on to the streets yesterday morning. Truckloads of police poured back into Cairo neighborhoods in the afternoon.
Some were jeered by residents who chanted anti-police slogans and demanded they only be allowed to deploy jointly with the military.
State television showed Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi in green fatigues on a central Cairo street, speaking with soldiers and civilians.
Then, as the curfew loomed, the jets roared over the Nile and toward Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo, where thousands have gathered each day to demand the end of the administration.
The jets made several passes over the square, dropping lower every time and setting off car alarms.
"This is terrorism, they are trying to scare the people with the planes and the tanks," one protester said.
Mubarak, 82, perpetuated the overriding role of military men in Egyptian politics by naming his intelligence chief, former army general Omar Suleiman, to the new role of vice president on Saturday. Ahmed Shafiq, the outgoing civil aviation minister and Mubarak fellow former air force officer, was named prime minister.
State TV yesterday showed images of Mubarak during what it said was a visit to the country's military command center.
The president looked somber and fatigued in his first public appearance since he addressed the nation last Friday to promise reform and announce the dismissal of his Cabinet.
Minutes before the start of a 4pm curfew, at least two jets made multiple passes over the downtown area, including a central square where thousands of protesters were calling for the departure of President Hosni Mubarak.
Police could be seen returning to some streets nearly two days after virtually disappearing, creating a security vacuum only partially filled by the presence of army troops backed by tanks at key sites around the city of 18 million people.
After days of escalating chaos, gangs of armed men attacked at least four jails across Egypt before dawn, helping to free hundreds of Muslim militants and thousands of other inmates. Gangs of young men with guns and large sticks smashed cars and robbed people in Cairo.
Banks were closed on orders from Egypt's Central Bank, and the stock market was shut on what is normally the first day of the trading week.
An unprecedented Internet cutoff remained in place after the country's four primary providers stopped moving data in and out of the country in an apparent move by authorities to disrupt the organization of demonstrations blaming Mubarak's regime for poverty, unemployment, corruption and police brutality.
The official death toll from the growing crisis stood at 74, with thousands injured.
After a night of violence in many cities across Egypt, the army sent hundreds more troops and armored vehicles on to the streets yesterday morning. Truckloads of police poured back into Cairo neighborhoods in the afternoon.
Some were jeered by residents who chanted anti-police slogans and demanded they only be allowed to deploy jointly with the military.
State television showed Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi in green fatigues on a central Cairo street, speaking with soldiers and civilians.
Then, as the curfew loomed, the jets roared over the Nile and toward Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo, where thousands have gathered each day to demand the end of the administration.
The jets made several passes over the square, dropping lower every time and setting off car alarms.
"This is terrorism, they are trying to scare the people with the planes and the tanks," one protester said.
Mubarak, 82, perpetuated the overriding role of military men in Egyptian politics by naming his intelligence chief, former army general Omar Suleiman, to the new role of vice president on Saturday. Ahmed Shafiq, the outgoing civil aviation minister and Mubarak fellow former air force officer, was named prime minister.
State TV yesterday showed images of Mubarak during what it said was a visit to the country's military command center.
The president looked somber and fatigued in his first public appearance since he addressed the nation last Friday to promise reform and announce the dismissal of his Cabinet.
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