Egypt revolution/Suez

[slim2none]

http://www.activistpost.com/2011/01/further-information-on-suspected.html

Thursday, January 27, 2011
Further Information on Suspected Massacre in Suez, Egypt
Philip Brennan


Disturbing reports of a massacre at the coastal town of Suez, in Egypt, are coming through Raw Story and the Egyptian Association for Change USA. From what we can ascertain, the whole city is on lock-down with a complete media blackout. Journalists from Al Jazeera and other reputable media outlets have been prevented from getting any where near Suez.


A statement on the Egyptian Association for Change USA Facebook wall reads:


...The situation in Suez copied and translated word for word from an Egyptian living in Suez: Now everything is fully destroyed, it is as if we are in emergency curfew, armored vehicles/tanks are everywhere in the area of 'Irbieen' and in the governerate - and we hear the sound of bombs/grenades every few minutes and there is still live ammunition and the protesters are brave men and women and none of them are afraid nor did anyone run or escape, even though they know that alot of protesters are detained in towers since 9 o'clock and there are no networks to confirm that parents are okay and security forces and fully in charge and we have yet to see the mayor, he hasn't even made a statement about what has happened and to comfort the parents of those who were jailed and the parents are enraged. One of the parents hasn't even received the body of her daughter until now and chaos is filling the place and we do not know what fate will being to us tomorrow with this government...


Few pictures or videos are coming out of Suez, but what we have been able to obtain do look very disturbing. A grainy photograph below, courtesy of Rassd News Network, shows fires in the streets of Suez and protesters milling around, probably shortly before the military crackdown on the protesters:


Some Arabic language audio reports are being posted up on YouTube, but as I do not speak Arabic I am unable to make use of them. As soon as English Language or subtitled versions start appearing, they will be posted.

***************************

This could go full-blown revolution there.  Mubarek and family have reportedly already left the country ~slim

[shy]

Egypt unrest rages; web shut ahead of big protest
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/28/us-egypt-protest-idUSTRE70O3UW20110128?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
CAIRO | Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:53pm EST

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian demonstrators fought security forces into the early hours of Friday in the city of Suez, and the Internet was blocked ahead of the biggest protests yet planned against President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. . . .

Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, who returned to Egypt from Vienna on Thursday, has called for Mubarak to resign and said he would join the protests on Friday.

Internet access was shut down across the country shortly after midnight. Mobile phone text messaging services also appeared to be partially disabled, working only sporadically. . . .

"Egypt's Muslims and Christians will go out to fight against corruption, unemployment and oppression and absence of freedom."

In Suez, which has been ground zero for some of the most violent demonstrations, police fired tear gas at protesters who hurled stones and petrol bombs into the early hours of Friday. Fires burned in the street, filling the air with smoke.

The city fire station was ablaze. Waves of protesters charged toward a police station deep into the night. Demonstrators dragged away their wounded comrades into alleys. . . .

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood, including at least eight senior officials of the opposition group and its main spokesmen, were rounded up overnight. A security source said authorities had ordered a crackdown on the group

[shy]

Hundreds held in Egypt protests   
More than 800 people have been detained in two days of anti-government protests.

Al Jazeera video (& more) @ http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/01/201112711521883885.html
 

[slim2none]

Oh the big squeeze on information is definitely on...can't have folks actually seeing what's happening.  AP's photo today made me laugh - water cannons are the very least of what's happening there.  

With ElBaradei back in the country, and at least some protestors calling for him to head an opposition govt, things will get hot really fast.  I admire ElBaradei for his principled stance during the IAEA inspections in Iraq long ago.  Better him in charge than the Muslim Brotherhood, IMO.
 

*update   Stirling is on this bigtime and is posting updated reports as they come in on his site - europebusines.blogspot.com (scroll down a ways)  ~slim

[lynx]

Food staples starting to run out in Egypt
     http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/30/egypt.protests.food/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

"The unrest has paralyzed daily life in Egypt with many grocers closing shop and spotty food shipments."

[slim2none]

"The unrest has paralyzed daily life in Egypt with many grocers closing shop and spotty food shipments."

Amazing how fast it happens!  I wouldn't doubt that there has been some intentional shorting to help settle the 'unrest' - as in, want your supplies? then get back to business as usual ASAP.  After all, food is the ultimate control tool, and Hose-me (so far) hasn't gotten the desired level of support from the military and the hated police forces were one of the first targets to be taken down in this revolution.

Much of the unhappiness there is because of the already scarce and expensive food supply, and much of that is due to the rampant selloff for development of the fertile lands bordering the Nile.  In former times, Egypt was a food exporter to large portions of the ME.  They don't even grow much of the highly prized Egyptian cotton anymore.

Other developments:

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/162832.html   US to send aerial backup to Sinai (FWIW, Iranian site)

More than a quarter million people showed up for the mass gathering today in the Square.  (How many more?)

Mubarak is to speak 'soon'.  

*update
Mubarek says he won't run in September elections (wise decision methinks lol) and will work for a  "peaceful transfer of power". Mubarak said, "In all sincerity, regardless of the current circumstances, I never intended to be a candidate for another term."  uh huh, but he did have Hose-me Jr. all lined up to replace him...until this little revolution put a kink in the works.

[lynx]

Hat tip to Bird Guano:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020100903.html

CAIRO - Human Rights Watch confirmed several cases of undercover police loyal to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's regime committing acts of violence and looting in an attempt to stoke fear of instability as demonstrations grew stronger Tuesday against the autocratic leader.

[slim2none]

Breaking -

VP Suleiman has given notice that "we can't put up with" the situation in Tahrir Square for an extended time and that the situation must be ended soon.

He also stated that there will be "no ending of the regime", and indicated Hosni Mubarak would not be leaving anytime soon.  This was reported by the Egyptian state news agency MENA after a meeting Tuesday between Suleiman and newspaper representatives.

"We don't want to deal with Egyptian society with police tools." he was quoted as saying.

[slim2none]

UPDATE: Egypt army takes charge, Mubarak to address nation

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/feb/10/military-says-mubarak-will-meet-protesters-demands/