Protesters Across Egypt Defy Curfew
Buildings and vehicles set alight across the
country as anti-government protests continue.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112816845606511.html
Last Modified: 28 Jan 2011 17:55 GMT
A nighttime curfew has begun in the Egyptian cities of
Cairo, Alexandria and Suez, after a day where thousands
of protesters took the streets, demanding an end to
Husni Mubarak's 30-year presidency.
The curfew was implemented on Friday on the orders of
the president, along with an order that the military
take charge of security, amid violent clashes occurred
between police and protesters.
Mubarak, "as commander in chief, has declared a curfew
in the governorates of Greater Cairo, Alexandria and
Suez from 6pm to 7am starting on Friday until further
notice," state television announced.
The president "has asked the armed forces, in
cooperation with the police, to implement the decision,
and maintain security and secure public establishments
and private property," it said.
Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Cairo,
said that a building belonging to the ruling National
Democratic Party was set ablaze along with several
police vehicles. Firefighters did not appear to be on
the streets, and the buildings continue to remain
torched.
Rawya Rageh, reporting from the port city of
Alexandria, said that protesters were defying the
curfew.
"The situation remains very tense, and many are still
out here, openly defying this curfew."
According to the Associated Press, thousands of
protesters have stormed the foreign ministry, and state
television building in Cairo.
At least 870 people were wounded during Friday's
protests some in a serious condition with bullet
wounds, medical sources said.
Police officers were also wounded, but numbers were not
immediately clear, the sources told Reuters news
agency. There was no official confirmation of the
figures.
In the city of Suez, at least two people killed during
ongoing demonstrations, and armoured vehicles were
reportedly set alight. Correspondent Jamal Elshayyal
also said that police stations were also set alight
during protests.
Dozens of people were also wounded as security forces
fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon at the
crowds and baton charged them.
During the clashes, plain clothes security forces also
dragged off protesters. At the Fatah mosque in central
Ramses Square, several thousand people were penned in
and teargassed.
Egyptian military vehicles meanwhile, were sighted on
the streets of the capital, and protesters had
previously chanted slogans calling for the army to
support them, complaining of police violence during
clashes in which security forces fired teargas and
rubber bullets.
Unconfirmed reported however, have emerged that the
army and police were involved in clashes in the
capital.
Ayman Mohyeldin said that if confirmed, it points to
the chaos that has filled the streets of Cairo.
"The army is a respected establishment in Egypt, and
many feel they need their support against what they see
as excessive force by the police and security forces,"
our correspondent in Cairo said.
However, Husni Mubarak ordered troops to back up police
as they struggled to control crowds who continue to
flood the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities.
But in a sign of escalating tensions, fires and thick
black smoke have been seen across parts of Cairo.
Friday's demonstrations were by far the biggest of four
consecutive days of protests by people fed up with
unemployment, poverty, corruption and the lack of
freedom under Mubarak.
"This protest is not going to stop. They won't and
can't trick the people again and give us some lame
concessions. Hosni has to go," protester Mohamed Taha
said after fleeing a police attack.
"I am 70 years old, I am going to die, but these people
have to fight to live," he said.
Protesters often quickly dispersed and regrouped.
Some held banners saying: "Everyone against one" and
chanted "Peaceful peaceful peaceful, no violence."
Others threw shoes at and stamped on posters of
Mubarak.
As clashes intensified, police waded into the crowds
with batons and fired volleys of
tear gas.
"Leave, leave, Mubarak, Mubarak, the plane awaits you,"
people chanted.
Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the United
Nations' nuclear watchdog and an opposition leader in
Egypt, was briefly detained by police after he prayed
at a mosque in the Giza area but he later took part in
a march with supporters.
The countrywide violence has so far left seven people
dead.
Government crackdown
In response, the government had vowed to crack down on
demonstrations and arrest those participating in them.
It has blocked internet, mobile phone and SMS services
in order to disrupt the planned demonstrations.
Before Egypt shut down internet access on Thursday
night, activists were posting and exchanging messages
using social networking services such as Facebook and
Twitter, listing more than 30 mosques and churches
where protesters were to organise on Friday.
Meanwhile, the United States says the situation in
Egypt is of "deep concern" and is calling on Egyptian
authorities to enact reforms and allow peaceful
protests and open communications.
PJ Crowley, a state department spokesman said on Friday
that Egypt must respect the "fundamental rights" of its
people and avoid violence.|
He also said reform is vital to the country's long-term
stability and security, and urged the government to
view its people as a partner and not a threat.
It is far from a foregone conclusion that the
protesters will force Mubarak out. They face two key
challenges, said Amon Aran, a Middle East expert at
London's City University, told Reuters news agency.
"One is the Egyptian security apparatus, which over the
years has developed a vested interest in the survival
of President Mubarak's regime. This elaborate apparatus
has demonstrated over the past few days that it is
determined to crush political dissent," he said.
"Another obstacle derives from the fact that, so far,
the protesters do not seem to form a coherent political
opposition.
The popular outcry is loud and clear, but whether it
can translate into a political force is questionable."
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
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