Thread: Clashes erupt amid Cairo protests

4:39pm The Egyptian presidency is to make an "urgent and important" statement shortly

Why preface it with this nonsense if they're going to come out with more bullshit. I'm sure everyone's got their TVs on anyway, just make the bloody statement.

Mubarak has stepped down.

Or perhaps that should be "has been told he's stepping down". Power handed to the military.

World Blog - Report: Council to suspend Parliament, fire Cabinet

Report: Council to suspend Parliament, fire Cabinet

Middle East channel Al Arabiya reports that the Higher Military Council, which has taken control from Hosni Mubarak, will fire Mubarak's Cabinet, suspend both houses of Parliament and rule with the head of the supreme constitutional court.

Reuters is quoting a military source as saying Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi will be the head of the ruling military council.

The moves come after Vice President Omar Suleiman's announced Mubarak's resignation. Here's the full text of his remarks, as translated by MSNBC TV:

In the name of Allah the merciful, the compassionate

Dear citizens,
Amid these difficult circumstances the country is going through, president Muhammad Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from presidency, he has delegated the supreme council of the armed forces to take charge of the country's affairs

May Allah be our guide and our help.

Egypt Now In Hands Of Military: Sky's Tim Marshall Analyses Hosni Mubarak's Resignation | World News | Sky News

'Egypt Is Now In The Hands Of The Military'

Tim Marshall, foreign affairs editor

This is what was supposed to have happened 24 hours ago - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has finally stepped down.

Everything that should have happened yesterday has happened now.

It's like a re-run of yesterday but with the outcome of what we had been expecting for some time.

Vice president Omar Suleiman has named a military council to run the country's affairs, so now Egypt is in the hands of the army.

This is essentially a military coup which has been going on behind the scenes for some time since the protests began.

The army waited for an opportunity and the protesters gave them that chance to manoeuvre Mr Mubarak out.

The protesters have done it themselves but the military are the ones who allowed this to happen - remember they never opened fire on the people.

Next comes the pressure from the world - for the military to make good on their promises of freedom.

It will take them at least three months to get the legal work done to prepare for new elections due in September.

By that time, the army will have to relinquish control and hand over to whoever is Egypt's new president.

They will also have to work out how to get the parliament working again and whether to hold parliamentary elections at the same time.

About a year from now we will be able to see how all these things have played out and whether people really will have power through representation.

Live blog Feb 11 - Egypt protests | Al Jazeera Blogs


7:12pm Bahrain's foreign minister Khalid al Khalifa: Egypt takes the Arab world into a new era ... Let's make it a better one

6:54pm ElBaradei speaks to Al Jazeera:

We need to rebuild the Egyptian culture and intellect

6:50pm Jubilation in Tahrir Square continues after Mubarak stepped down as Egypt's president.

6:39pm A somewhat timely piece by Yuliya Tymoshenko, former prime minister of Ukraine and current leader of the opposition:

My revolution betrayed - After revolutions, counter-revolutions may follow. But how can the spirit of an uprising be kept up as the years pass?

6:29pm Missed the 30 seconds that ended the 30 years of Mubarak's rule? Watch it again here:






6:20pm Ayman Mohyeldin, Egyptian and Al Jazeera correspondent, says that for so many people, "a dream has become a reality".

6:12pm: Mubarak steps down. Brought to you live on Al Jazeera:



6:09pm: No point any of our presenters trying to speak over the roar of Egyptians celebrating.

6:04pm: Jubilation breaks out across Egypt. Flags waving. Joyous scenes in Tahrir Square, Alexandria, Suez. Watch our live stream here: http://aje.me/jelive

6:03pm: He's gone. He's resigned. 30 years of Mubarak rule is over. Omar Suleiman says:

President Hosni Mubarak has waived the office of president.

6:01pm: Omar Suleiman addressing nation now.

6:00pm: Hosni Mubarak's move to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is "a positive first step", a White House official says.

Egypt unrest: Mubarak resigns, army takes over, VP says



Demonstrators in Cairo celebrate President Hosni Mubarak's resignation Friday night.

February 11th, 2011
12:08 PM ET

Developments, as confirmed by CNN, on the uprising in Egypt. Click here for up-to-the-minute updates. Check out our full coverage and the latest tweets from CNN correspondents on the ground.

[Update 6:49 p.m. in Cairo, 11:49 a.m. ET] Amre Moussa, the secretary-general of the Arab League, told CNN that Egyptians are "looking forward to a different future" and hoping for "a better future."

[Update 6:45 p.m. in Cairo, 11:45 a.m. ET] Fireworks exploded in the sky and people honked horns as the celebration of Mubarak's resignation continued 45 minutes after the announcement, CNN's Ivan Watson reported from Cairo's Tahrir Square.

[Update 6:43 p.m. in Cairo, 11:43 a.m. ET] Egyptian protest leader Wael Ghonim sent out a Twitter message saying "congratulations Egypt the criminal has left the palace."

[Update 6:38 p.m. in Cairo, 11:38 a.m. ET] President Obama was informed of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's decision to step down during a meeting in the Oval Office. Obama then watched TV coverage of the scene in Cairo for several minutes. He will make an on-camera statement later today.

[Update 6:36 p.m. in Cairo, 11:36 a.m. ET] The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has been put in charge of Egypt's affairs, is expected to make an announcement shortly.

[Update 6:16 p.m. in Cairo, 11:16 a.m. ET] Hosni Mubarak has decided "to step down as president of Egypt and has assigned the Higher Council of the Armed Forces to run the affairs of the country," Vice President Omar Suleiman announced.

[Update 6:10 p.m. in Cairo, 11:10 a.m. ET] A military council will run Egypt in the wake of Mubarak's resignation, Egypt's vice president says.

[Update 6:09 in Cairo, 11:07 ET] Demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square chanted "Egypt is free!" upon hearing the news of Hosni Mubarak's resignation on Friday.

[Update 6:01 p.m. in Cairo, 11:01 a.m. ET] President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down from the presidency of Egypt, Vice President Omar Suleiman said.

Crowds across Cairo erupted in deafening cheers at the announcement.

[Update 5:32 p.m in Cairo, 10:32 a.m. ET] Tanks guarding the presidential palace in Cairo turned their turrets away from approaching demonstrators, eliciting a huge cheer from the crowd, CNN's Ivan Watson reported.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...d_dest=Twitter

Timeline: Countdown to the fall of Hosni Mubarak

11:27am EST

CAIRO | Fri Feb 11, 2011 11:34am EST

CAIRO (Reuters) - Here is a timeline of the events in the uprising against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who stepped down on Friday, the 18th day of protests.

December 17, 2010 - In Tunisia Mohamed Bouazizi sets fire to himself in the central town of Sidi Bouzid in protest at confiscation by police of his vegetable cart. Local people demonstrate in support.

January 4, 2011 - Bouazizi dies of his burns. Huge funeral adds momentum to protests against unemployment and repression.

January 14 - After days of clashes in which dozens are killed, and having made empty promises of reforms and elections, Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Al flees to Saudi Arabia.

January 25 - Thousands of Egyptians demand an end to President Hosni Mubarak's rule and clash with police in a "Day of Wrath" inspired by Ben Ali's downfall.

January 26 - In unprecedented scenes, police fight with thousands of Egyptians who defy a government ban to protest against Mubarak's rule.

January 27 - Mohamed ElBaradei, reform campaigner and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrives in Cairo.

January 28 - At least 24 people are killed and more than 1,000 hurt in clashes throughout Egypt. Mubarak extends a curfew to all cities.

-- Mubarak orders troops and tanks into cities overnight to quell demonstrations. Thousands cheer at the news of the intervention of the army, which is seen as neutral, unlike the police who are regularly deployed to stifle dissent.

January 29 - Mubarak sacks his cabinet but refuses to step down. Protesters stream back into Cairo's central Tahrir Square in the early hours after Mubarak's announcement.

-- Mubarak names intelligence chief Omar Suleiman as vice-president.

-- Thousands of protesters roam the streets after a curfew starts. Egyptians form vigilante groups to guard property against looters.

January 31 - The army says it will not use force against Egyptians staging protests. It says freedom of expression is guaranteed to all citizens using peaceful means.

-- Egypt swears in a new government. Suleiman says Mubarak has asked him to start dialogue with all political forces.

-- Thousands in Tahrir Square hours after curfew, in a good-natured gathering, call for the president to quit.

February 1 - Mubarak declares he will surrender power when his term ends in September, offering a mixture of concessions and defiance in a televised statement.

-- Around one million Egyptians protest throughout the country for Mubarak to step down immediately.

February 2 - The army calls for protesters to leave the streets and curfew hours are eased.

-- Troops make no attempt to intervene as violence breaks out between pro- and anti-Mubarak groups in Tahrir Square.

-- The government rejects U.S. and European calls for political transition to start immediately.

February 3 - Gunmen fire on anti-government protesters in Cairo, where about 10 are killed and more than 830 injured in fighting. The U.N. estimates that 300 people have died in the unrest.

Feb 4 - Thousands gather in Tahrir Square to press again for an end to Mubarak's rule in a "Day of Departure."

February 5 - Gamal Mubarak, son of the president, resigns from the leadership of Egypt's ruling party.

February 6 - Opposition groups, including the banned Muslim Brotherhood, hold talks with the government, chaired by the vice-president. They say a core demand for the removal of Mubarak is not met. The sides agree to draft a road map for talks and a committee is set up to study constitutional issues.

-- Banks re-open after a week-long closure.

-- Thousands gather in Tahrir Square joining noon prayers to honor "martyrs" killed in the bloodshed.

February 7 - State news agency MENA reports Mubarak has set up two committees to draw up changes to the constitution.

-- The stock market remains closed, to reopen on February 13.

-- Opposition figures report little progress in talks with the government.

February 8 - Egyptians stage one of their biggest protests.

-- Vice President Suleiman says Egypt has a timetable for the peaceful transfer of power. He promises no reprisals against the protesters.

February 9 - Four people are killed and several wounded in clashes between security forces and about 3,000 protesters in the western province of New Valley, south of Cairo.

-- Pro-democracy protesters consolidate a new encampment around Cairo's parliament building as Tahrir Square remains crowded. Protesters say organizers are working on plans to move on to the state radio and television building on February 11.

February 10 - On the 17th day of protests against his rule, Mubarak says Egypt is heading "day after day" to a peaceful transfer of power and he was committed to protect the constitution until that happens.

-- He hands powers to his vice-president but spurned protesters' demands that he quit office immediately. He also expressed regret over protesters' deaths.

February 11 - Mubarak steps down, handing over to the army and ending 30 years of rule.

-- Suleiman says a military council will run the affairs of the Arab world's most populous nation.

-- Thousands break down in tears, celebrate and hug each other chanting: "The people have brought down the regime."

(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: africa.reuters.com/)

(Writing by David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit; editing by David Stamp)

Can't wait to see the first PAD zealot comparing Mubarak's fall with Thaksin's.....

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...d_dest=Twitter

Global stocks rally, oil falls as Mubarak resigns

4:44am EST


A man yawns in front of an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Taiyuan, Shanxi province February 9, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Stringer

By Walter Brandimarte
NEW YORK | Fri Feb 11, 2011 11:40am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks rallied and oil prices fell on Friday after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, bowing to escalating pressure from the military and protesters.

Prices of gold and U.S. Treasury bonds partly erased early gains as Mubarak's departure partially revived investors' appetite for risk. The U.S. dollar briefly pared gains, but remained strong against a basket of major currencies.

"It looks like the stock market is taking the news well," said Gary Thayer, chief macro strategist with Wells Fargo in St. Louis.

"One thing that has weighed on investor sentiment is that the price of oil would go up in the case of political turmoil, and Mubarak's leaving reduces that possibility."

Key U.S. stock indexes opened lower on concerns about the continuous unrest in Egypt, a longtime U.S. ally in the Middle East. On Thursday, Mubarak disappointed protesters and investors by holding on to power.

Equities rose later as news of his resignation was announced by the Egyptian vice president on television.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 15.67 points, or 0.13 percent, at 12,244.96, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX gained 3.39 points, or 0.26 percent, to 1,325.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC added 5.29 points, or 0.19 percent, at 2,795.74.

In Europe, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top shares gained 0.5 percent. MSCI's benchmark All-Country World Index .MIWD00000PUS rose 0.18 percent.

U.S. crude oil prices fell 30 cents, or 0.35 percent, to $86.43 per barrel, while spot gold prices erased part of its gains, but were still up 0.19 percent at $1,364.00.

U.S. Treasury prices also shed some gains, but the benchmark 10-year notes were still up 22/32 in price, with the yield at 3.6194 percent.

(Additional reporting by Rodrigo Campos, Richard Leong and Steven C. Johnson; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110211/...medium=twitter

Mubarak exit sets off celebrations across Mideast



By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Zeina Karam, Associated Press – 19 mins ago

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Celebrations erupted across the Middle East on Friday after Hosni Mubarak stepped down as Egypt's president. From Beirut to Gaza, people rushed into the streets, handing out candy, setting off fireworks and shooting in the air.

Even in Israel, which had watched the Egyptian protesters' uprising against Mubarak with concern, a former Cabinet minister said Mubarak did the right thing. "The street won. There was nothing that could be done. It's good that he did what he did," former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who knew Mubarak well, told Israel TV's Channel 10.

Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace with Israel, and there are fears the 1979 accord could now be challenged.

Moments after Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman made the announcement of Mubarak's resignation, fireworks lit up the sky over Beirut. Celebratory gunfire rang out in the Shiite-dominated areas in south Lebanon and in southern Beirut.

On Al-Manar TV, the station run by the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah faction, Egyptian anchor Amr Nassef, who was once imprisoned in Egypt for alleged ties to Islamists, cried emotionally on the air and said: "Allahu Akbar (God is great), the Pharaoh is dead. Am I dreaming? I'm afraid to be dreaming."

In Tunisia, where a successful uprising expelled a longtime leader only weeks earlier, cries of joy and the thundering honking of horns greeted the announcement. "God delivered our Egyptian brothers from this dictator," said Yacoub Youssef, one of those celebrating in the capital of Tunis.

Tunisia inspired pro-democracy protest movements across the Arab world after a month of deadly demonstrations pushed dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali into exile in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14.

There was no immediate official reaction from Tunisia's caretaker government.

In the Gaza Strip, ruled by the Islamic militant Hamas, thousands rushed into the streets in jubilation. Gunmen fired in the air and women handed out candy. "God bless Egypt, it's a day of joy and God willing all corrupt leaders in the world will fall," said Radwa Abu Ali, 55, one of the women distributing sweets.

Egypt, along with Israel, had enforced a border blockade on Gaza after the territory was seized by Hamas in 2007. There were some expectations that under a new Egyptian regime, the blockade would be eased.

"This is a victory for the will of the people and a turning point in the future of the region," said Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman.
___
Associated Press writers Ian Deitch in Jerusalem, Ibrahim Barzak in the Gaza Strip and Bouazza Ben Bouazza in Tunis contributed to this report.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...849852442.html

World reacts as Mubarak steps down

Leaders across the globe hail "historic change" and "victory" in Egypt, with many urging reform and stability.

Last Modified: 11 Feb 2011 17:40 GMT


Barack Obama watched history unfold in Egypt on a television screen just outside the Oval Office, sources said [AFP]

World leaders have begun reacting to the announcement that Hosni Mubarak has resigned as Egypt's president and handed over power to the armed forces.

Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said the move showed Mubarak had "listened the the voices of the Egyptian people" and opened the way to reform in the country.

"It is important now that the dialogue is accelerated leading to a broad-based government which will respect the aspirations of, and deliver stability for, the Egyptian people," she said just after Egypt's vice-president delivered the news on Friday.

"The future of Egypt rightly remains in the hands of the Egyptian people," she said.

Barack Obama, the US president, is due to make a statement on the development later on Friday.


Click here for more of Al Jazeera's special coverage

The White House said Obama watched the television coverage of history unfolding outside a meeting at the Oval Office.

A day earlier, the US leader had said Cairo "must spell out a clear path to democracy".

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, hailed Mubarak's decision as an "historic change", and called on the country to respect its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.

Her sentiments were echoed by a senior Israeli official, who said: "We hope that the change to democracy in Egypt will happen without violence and that the peace accord will remain."

Amr Moussa, the secretary-general of the Arab League, said there was now a "big chance" to build a "national censensus" in the coming period.

"There is a big chance now and a window has opened after this white revolution and after the president's concession," he told Al Arabiya television.

In Iran, a foreign ministry spokesman said Egyptians had achieved a "great victory".

"The conquest by the will of the great Egyptian nation over the resistance and persistance of officials who were dependent on the world powers is a great victory," Ramin Mehmanparast told Al-Alam television.

In Gaza there have been jubilant scenes with Palestinians setting off fireworks to mark the news.

"The resignation of Egyptian president ... is the beginning of the victory of the Egyptian revolution," Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said.

"Such a victory was the result of the sacrifices and the steadfastness of the Egyptian people," he told the Reuters news agency.

Jerzy Buzek, EU parliament head and a former Solidarity activist in communist Poland, said that the Egyptian army "must pursue a constructive role in the democratisation process".

"This is only the beginning of a long road to lasting change," he said.

In Qatar, the Emir's royal council said Mubarak's resignation was a "positive, important step towards the Egyptian people's aspirations of achieving democracy and reform and a life of dignity".

Analysts have also remained cautious despite the scenes of jubilation across Egypt.

"Huge questions remain as to where we go next, and it could be a tortuous path," Julien Barnes-Dacey, a middle-east analyst told the Reuters news agency.

"There must be serious questions over how acceptable Suleiman will be given his support for Mubarak. I think he has to come up with sessions very quickly for very comprehensive reform.

"There will be a feeling of jubilation on the streets in the very short term, but I think if they do not seek change protests could still continue."

But in Egypt, opposition figurehead Mohamed ElBaradei said it was the "greatest day" of his life following the announcement. "The country has been liberated".

Mubarak's announcement comes a day after he said he would not be stepping down, sparking angry protests.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Can't wait to see the first PAD zealot comparing Mubarak's fall with Thaksin's.....

Actually Rajprasong News, the red shirt Facebook and Twitter outlet/info source has been comparing the red shirt struggle with the Egyptian protests for a long time now

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Can't wait to see the first PAD zealot comparing Mubarak's fall with Thaksin's.....

Actually Rajprasong News, the red shirt Facebook and Twitter outlet/info source has been comparing the red shirt struggle with the Egyptian protests for a long time now

Not quite the same comparison, is it?

Good to see all of these Egyptian women out in their thousands. They must be so looking forward to all of the freedom they are soon to receive under Sharia law.

nothing to celebrate, he just handed power to his military buddies and without doubt he will continue to operate the country until "order is restored"

it's officially a military coup, why would they even bother with an election and reforms now ? they don't answer to any civilians or politicians anymore

Mubarak just checkmate that protest,

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Not quite the same comparison, is it?

Chalk and cheese.